This master's thesis addresses the renovation of the Studenice Monastery through the concept of adaptive reuse as an approach to preserving and reactivating cultural heritage. Following the dissolution of the order, changes in ownership, and inappropriate use, the monastery lost its primary function and remains only partially restored and without adequate program. Today, only the church and the rectory are in active use, while the rest of the complex remains unused despite its exceptional historical, architectural, and spatial value.
The theoretical and analytical part examines the characteristics of monastic typology as a specific spatial structure, whose organization enables the integration of new programs through adaptive reuse. The concept of adaptive reuse is presented as a methodological framework for introducing new functions while preserving the historical fabric and spatial identity. Based on historical, spatial, and architectural analyses, the existing condition of the monastery is defined, and its qualities, constraints, and development potential are identified as the basis for the renovation project.
The design proposal introduces a comprehensive renovation through the integration of new programs derived from the existing spatial structure, its current condition, and the needs of the local environment. The new interventions are designed as restrained and reversible insertions within the existing buildings, enabling contemporary use with minimal intervention into the historical fabric. Through the addition of a new southern wing and the reinterpretation of the cloister as the central organizational element, the spatial integrity of the complex is re-established. The program is based on the principles of cultural heritage tourism and includes cultural, educational, and community functions, organized in accordance with the spatial logic of the monastery.
The renovation concept is based on a clear differentiation between old and new while preserving the identity of the site. The new interventions are established as a contemporary layer that maintains the legibility of historical layers and the continuity of the spatial structure. The renovation re-establishes the monastery as an important cultural and spatial center within its local context.
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