A New Front for the Stockholm City Library

Designing an Extension for Gunnar Asplund's Stockholm City Library

Master thesis (2024)

Authors

S. Ray Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

S. De Vocht Situated Architecture - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)
E. Karanastasi Teachers of Practice / AE+T - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)
S.S. Mandias Situated Architecture - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment
More Info
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Published Date

24-06-2024

Language

English

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract


The Observatory Hill forms a cohesive ensemble with the City Library and its three Annex volumes. The new extension aims to unify the ensemble formed by the Stockholm City Library, the Annexes, and the Stockholm School of Economics into a collective campus. This integration strengthens the educational significance of the site and enhances the monumentality of the library within its urban context.

The project acknowledges the Library’s existing structure and its recent additions, introducing a contemporary layer that complements the original design. By reinforcing the established architectural elements, the extension bridges the site’s constraints through the introduction of a continuous roof assembly, a decentralised reading hall and a methodical colonnade, creating a harmonious link between the different volumes.

These features are designed to expand the library's current offerings, creating a more dynamic and versatile environment. The sectional organization of the space introduces a linear pathway that extends from the Rotunda of the existing library into the mezzanine of the new addition, effectively bridging the library’s existing functions with the newly integrated spaces.