Cantilevered volumes and light shafts in Oslo new public library

Designed by LundHagem and Atelier Oslo, Deichman Bjørvika is conceived as a meeting place for the city: a vertically developed space valued by the use of light.

Designed by LundHagem and Atelier Oslo, Deichman Bjørvika is the new public library for Oslo city, located between Oslo Central Station and Opera House by Snøhetta. With the aim to create a contemporary library, architects conceived a building for meeting and activities, an open space to be explored with a total of 450,000 books.

The building is distributed over six top-lit levels, one of them underground, connected by three polygonal light shafts that cut diagonally across the building. Natural light also enters through the glazed surfaces of the cladding, completely transparent on the ground floor to enhance the connection with the city. Cantilevered volumes have been added on the first and fourth floors, almost 20 meters out above the urban plaza.

Accessible on three sides, the library organises closed spaces and niches around three self-supporting book towers in order to free the facades and invite light in. The library includes a cinema and a 200-seat auditorium in the basement, a restaurant and recording studios.

Project:
Deichman Bjørvik
Location:
Oslo, Norway
Program:
New main library for Oslo city
Architects:
LundHagem and Atelier Oslo architects
Interior architects:
Scenario
Project management:
AFRY Advansia
Structural engineering:
Bollinger Grohman and Multiconsult
Consultants:
Multiconsult, COWI, Rambøll, Asplan Viak / Kan Energ
Contractor core and shell:
SKANSKA
Contractor facade:
Roschmann Group
Contractor interior:
AF Byggfornyelse
Client:
Oslo municipality
Gross area:
19,600 sqm
Area:
13,500 sqm
Completion:
2020

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