Library Buildings around the World

Denmark
AART – arkitekter maa århus, Århus, Copenhagen – Denmark
http://www.aart.dk
Libraries:
The Culture Yard, Helsingør – Denmark 2010
Client: Helsingør Municipality, 13.000 m²
Inspired by the unique site and its captivating history the Culture Yard is designed as a hinge between the past and present,
symbolizing Elsinore’s transformation from an old industrial city to a modern cultural hub.
In many years the attention has been aimed at the site adjacent, where the UNESCO World Heritage site, Kronborg Castle, which is
famous for its role in Shakespeare's Hamlet, exerts its magnetic pull on both tourists and local citizens of Elsinore – but now
Elsinore’s old shipbuilding yard has been transformed into a 13,000 m2 cultural and knowledge centre, including concert halls,
showrooms, conference facilities, a dockyard museum and a public library.
The contrast between the past and present permeates the Culture Yard. For instance, the original concrete skeleton with armoured
steel has been reinforced, but left exposed as a reference to the site’s industrial past. The historic context has thus been the main
structural idea in the design process, ensuring the keen observer will discover a chapter of history in every corner of the yard and
every peeling of the wall.
Particularly striking, when viewed from the seafront and Kronborg Castle, is the multifaceted façade. Like a fragmented, yet
strongly coherent structure, the enormous glass and steel façade challenges the historic site and stares unflinchingly across the strait
that separates Denmark and Sweden.
The façade encloses the yard in a distinctive atmosphere, as the dazzling and dramatic play of lines generates a sense of spaciousness.
Although the façade is made of hundreds of lines and triangles it appears as one big volume, generating a sense of place and time.
The volume also takes the environment into account, as the façade not only functions as an aesthetic architectural feature, but also as
a climate shield, reducing the energy demand for cooling and heating of the building.(AART)
ADEPT, Copenhagen – Denmark
http://www.adeptarchitects.com
Libraries:
University Library + Plaza, Högskolan Dalarna, Falun, Denmark on design
invited competition, 1 st prize 2010, collaboration with Sou Fujimoto, Topotek1, Rambøll A/S and Bosch & Fjord
3000 m2
The new library, placed centrally at the Dalarna university campus, is organized as a ”spiral of knowledge”. The sloping
terrain continues in a ramp through the building. Wrapping itself the ramp creates a spiral-shaped space - the heart of the
building for information seeking and easy orientation. This organization of program creates a various learning environment
where students can take part in the vibrant life of the library as well as retreat into various study niches. The different sound
levels and activities create a diverse and eventful library. The library has its own spatial character in which library and
multimedia functions unite and create synergy with the existing university. Wooden facades integrate the building in the
surroundings, reflecting the local tradition of using wood as construction material. Dalarna Media Plaza is created in
addition to the library – together they form a new landmark for Högskolan Dalarna. Through a simple reorganization the
car park becomes a new surface with ‘islands’ of activities. The programming of the Plaza is flexible and will be developed in
the user process. The Plaza, which is a mix of recreational functions and furniture, serves as arrival area and hang-out space
for users of Högskolan, the library and visitors in the area.This project will help to attract people in the neighborhood,
thereby anchoring the library in the local community. In addition the ambition is to project strengthen the collaboration
between regional and international educational and research institutions. With its public functions and activities Dalarna
Media Library will become a dynamo in the area and an attraction for both local inhabitants and businesses. Activities in
the café, exhibitions, lectures, continuing education, etc. will provide fertile ground for international exchange and
interdisciplinary collaboration. (ADEPT)
ADEPT WINS SWEDISH MEDIA LIBRARY COMPETITION WITH A MULTIFUNCTIONAL “SPIRAL OF
KNOWLEDGE”
(10. 08. 2010) Danish ADEPT, Japanese SOU FUJIMOTO Architects and an advisory team consisting of Topotek1, Rambøll
A/S and Bosch & Fjord win the competition for a new library in Falun, Sweden, with the project “Dalarna Media Arena”.
The project, which consists of a 3000m2 library and an adjoining plaza, is a part of Dalarna University campus. Dalarna
Media Arena is a reinterpretation of the library – a multifunctional event- and knowledge center – targeting students and
teachers as well as the local community. Dalarna Media Arena matches a new library culture, staging a wealth of
opportunities for events and inspiration. The library and plaza at Högskolan Dalarna will be the city’s third space – a
dynamic meeting point with activities for students, employees and visitors. The library is organized as a ”spiral of
knowledge”. The sloping terrain continues in a ramp through the building. Wrapping itself the ramp creates a spiral-shaped
space - the heart of the building for information seeking and easy orientation. This organization of program creates various
learning environments where students can take part in the vibrant life of the library as well as retreat into various study
niches. The different sound levels and activities create a diverse and eventful library.
The library has its own spatial character in which library and multimedia functions unite and create synergy with the
existing university. Wooden facades integrate the building in the surroundings, reflecting the local tradition of using wood as
construction material. Dalarna Media Plaza is created in addition to the library – together they form a new landmark for
Högskolan Dalarna. Through a simple reorganization the car park becomes a new surface with ‘islands’ of activities. The
programming of the Plaza is flexible and will be developed in the user process. The Plaza, which is a mix of recreational
functions and furniture, serves as arrival area and hang-out space for users of Högskolan, the library and visitors in the
area. This project will help to attract people in the neighborhood, thereby anchoring the library in the local community. In
addition the ambition is to project strengthen the collaboration between regional and international educational and research
1