Spahijski podrum by Rašić+Vrabec

Spahijski Podrum (Cellar) is an innovative hybrid cultural space that unites a public library and a museum within a single shared environment. Located in a protected, 18th-century heritage building in the center of Pakrac, Croatia, the project transforms a historic building into a contemporary civic space rooted in local identity.

Rather than separating cultural functions, the design integrates library areas, a permanent exhibition, reading spaces, and community programs into one coherent spatial experience. Museum artefacts, archival material, and books coexist within the same environment, encouraging visitors to encounter heritage through everyday use, learning, and discovery. Spahijski Podrum redefines the role of cultural institutions in smaller cities. It operates simultaneously as a library, museum, gathering place, and catalyst for cultural life, preserving the past while actively shaping the social and cultural future of the community.