The “Spahija Cellar” project in Pakrac involved the restoration of a listed 18th-century Baroque building and its conversion into a combined library and museum, the first of its kind in Croatia. Across more than 2,500 m², the building brings together a permanent museum exhibition, the city library, reading rooms and spaces for events and everyday public use.

The project was developed as an integrated spatial system combining architecture, interior design, graphic design, signage and museum interpretation. A continuous timber backdrop composed of vertical slats connects the different functions, referring to the surrounding forests and creating a warm, calm and clearly organised environment.

The library and museum complement one another, forming an open space for learning, research, social interaction and cultural programmes. The adaptive reuse of the historic building has introduced a new public function that brings cultural heritage into the city’s everyday life. The “Spahija Cellar” project becomes a social and cultural centre for Pakrac and an example of a contemporary approach to the reuse of historic architecture.