Odensämhalle

Abstract

The Stockholm City Library, designed by Erik Gunnar Asplund and completed around 1928, sits just outside the bustling center of Stockholm. The design task was to adapt or add to the existing building, in a way that it’s to meet the needs of a modern public library in Sweden. My design proposal emphasizes the relationship with the surroundings, as the building is nestled between a park and the city. I carefully consider what’s already there, what works well, and what needs adaptation. While the current building holds significant historical value, it presents a somewhat monumental, static appearance. To accommodate modern library functions, such as maker spaces and lecture spaces, I propose an additional building next to the Stockholm City Library. This addition would allow for a more flexible and modern design while respecting the historical and architectural significance of existing buildings on the site, such as the three annex buildings and the bazaar. The new design functions primarily as a
separate building, contrasting with the existing Stockholm City Library. While the current library, with its high-placed windows and monumental appearance, creates a separation from its surroundings, my building aims to be open and welcoming. It sees the library as an integral
part of the city and local community, blurring the boundary between where the library starts and ends. These contrasting buildings will complement each other, with one representing the traditional library, and the other emphasizing the role and needs of the modern library. I drew inspiration from Asplund’s earlier design proposals and the existing bazaar which connects the library with the city. I also borrowed some features from the existing library. In my design, I repeated the visual motif of the Stockholm City Library’s base (bazaar). However, my building is intended to be less imposing than the monumentality of the original Stockholm City Library. Hereby, the monumentality of the existing building is kept or even strengthened, while it keeps
functioning as an institute of knowledge for the city. The new addition enhances the connection between the park and the city, while also providing a sense of belonging, focusing on the importance of the library for the local community.