Transformations of the industrial zone Pijacal
New Public Library - a Mine of Culture
The former coal mine infrastructure in Labin is being adapted to new public purposes (town library and multimedia centre). The Labin Town Library is integrated into the authentic ambience of a mining heritage site, a complex known as “Pijacal”, a protected industrial cultural heritage listed in the Register of cultural goods of the Croatian Ministry of Culture.
The basic conception related to the renovation of the library’s interior was based on the idea of maintaining the character of the building by allowing the visitors to enjoy some elements evocating the original interior design and atmosphere, even though the new function was respected. One room is dedicated to the “memory of the miners”, with a screen offering videos of the lives of Labin’s miners.
Labin’s Town Library won two awards: the Bernardo Bernardi Award for the best achievement in architectural and interior design in Croatia and the Vladimir Nazor Annual Award for the best artistic achievement in the field of architecture and town planning in Croatia.
Further details.