Stockholm, Sweden

The Space Between Us

THE STOCKHOLM CITY LIBRARY

Urban Strategy

The Observatory hill gives a strong natural character to this urban site, whose corner between Odengatan and Sveavägen is occupied by the Asplund library as a key position. The big scale of the Diligentia and Folksam buildings defines the site on the Odengatan side and imposes their strong presence. The slope of Odengatan reinforces this effect.

The question of preserving the annexes arises insofar, as their urban scale, their size and their spatial qualities are not strong enough to respond to the programmatic and symbolic challenge of a new library.

The new building should be a visible sign and function as an eye-catcher.

How to take advantage of the neighbourhood

The new building takes a respectful distance towards the Asplund Library and generates a void. This void functions as a mediator between the two buildings and becomes a public place.There is no apparent physical link between the two buildings. The new plaza is captures the green façade of the Observatory hill. The natural site becomes a link to the librarys park and pond.

A reading room level emerges from the new library and covers the plaza. It seems to embrace the Asplunds icon of a book temple. The volume underneath could contain the square basis of the Asplund library, which seems to have slipped on the Odengatan slope, until its slightly turned corner position. The old and the new library seem to form one single unit. The new library is aligned with the street; the rotation of the Asplund library preserves its exception.

A hole is spared in this floating reading room level allowing the day light to brighten up the plaza and offering views towards the reading room and the sky.The restaurant is integrated in the hill. Its façade emerges out of the green slopes, like bursting crystals. The hidden façade of the Asplund library appears as a mirage.

The Asplund Library

The Asplund library will continue to work as an autonomous entity with all its necessary functions. An underground connection for the sorting machine system will connect the old and the new library.

The base of the Asplund building will be released from its commercial functions in order to integrate the Swedish Institute of Children’s Books.

he New Library

Starting from the entrance hall situated on the plaza level, a succession of escalators leads to the five upper floors. The escalators along the façades are turning around the central elevators core. A crescent void allows the visitor to understand instantaneously the main distribution of the library and to apprehend its impressive size.

The library is completely glazed in order to let a maximum of daylight come in and to keep a visual contact with the city, the plaza, the Asplund library and the Observatory hill. The transparency allows the people to spear into the library from the outside. The open-house concept invites the people to visit and experience the library.

Europaconcorsi Beta

The Space Between Us