The Library

Location: Copenhagen north-west, Denmark

Client: City of Copenhagen

Program: Extension of existing culture house and new library and concert hall

Size: Existing 1.150 m2, new build 2.000 m2

Status: 1st prize in competition 2009, completion 2011

Collaborators: TRANSFORM, Wessberg, Schönherr, Bdr. A&B Andersen

Awards: 2012 MIPIM Award (Best Refurbished Building), 2011 Copenhagen Award (Best Public Building), 2011 Hovedstadens Forskønnelse (Best Building)

The Library is an extension of an existing culture house combined with a new library and concert hall in Copenhagen’s north-west. The concept of the Library focuses around the creation of a space that is more than just a place you go to find books – the building also works a village hall, a community center and an urban space uniting the neighborhood. The building consists of 4 golden boxes displaced in proportion to each other - like a stack of books. At ground floor, there's a children's library, then a youth library, a library for adults and finally on top, a concert hall. The different volumes are connected with staircases and in the space between the boxes, are multi-purpose areas.