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Finding a New Purpose as a Bookstore: The Dominican Church in Maastricht

Kristen Twardowski's avatarKristen Twardowski

Selexyz-Dominicanen-Bookstore-01-800x1068-767x1024.jpg

Though bookstores often take over old buildings, most shops don’t inhabit old churches. A bookstore in the Netherlands, however, is an exception to that rule. In 2007, Seleyx, a Dutch chain, hired architect firm Merkx+Girod to convert an old Dominican church in Maastricht, Netherlands into a bookshop. In order to maintain the architectural integrity of the space, Merkx+Girod kept the ceiling open and created multilevel bookshelves among which patrons could walk. Seleyx didn’t want to simply obliterate the 700 year old building but instead hoped to find a better use for the space.

It looks like they succeeded.

The result is a stunning place where people can wander rows of books, observe the art that still clings to the walls, and enjoy a drink from the coffee shop on the former church’s main level. If I ever make my way to the Netherlands, I’ll have to try and see it…

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About The Owl Lady

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Viv Drewa is a Michigan native who has enjoyed reading and writing since 1963. Though she studied medicinal chemistry at the University of Michigan, her passion has always been writing. She had been awarded third place for her nonfiction short story about her grandfather's escape from Poland. Later, she rewrote this story and was published in the "Polish American Journal" as "From the Pages of Grandfather's Life" and has republished it on Amazon.com as a short story. Viv took creative and journalism courses to help in her transition to fulfill her dream of becoming a writer. She worked as an intern for Port Huron's 'The Times Herald", and also wrote, edited and did the layout or the Blue Water Multiple Sclerosis newsletter "Thumb Prints." She also has a business promoting authors. Owl and Pussycat Book Promotions. Viv, her husband Bob and their cat Princess, live in Port Huron, Michigan.

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