More than a decade after the initial design competition, and delays due to COVID-19, Deichman Bjørvika, Oslo’s new main library is now open. Designed by Atelier Oslo and Lundhagem and located between Oslo Central Station and the Oslo Opera house, the design is characterised by dramatic cantilevers that extend out into the public realm.
A cantilevered floor to the east of the building cantilevers over the street, while the fourth floor cantilevers nearly 20 meters over an urban plaza. The architects explain that these cantilevered floors are suspended from the roof, which provides structural strength thanks to a folded geometry.
The entry floor of the library is largely open, with three different entrance points strategically spaced to draw visitors into the library. Once inside, three ‘light shafts’, created by cutting openings in the floors above, allow for views through the library space and natural light to trickle down. Throughout, freestanding book towers play a major role in terms of defining interior space, without seemingly overly massive.
Stretching over six floors and 13,500 square meters (approx. 1,4 million square feet), visitors will not only find books – 450,000 of them – but also many other opportunities including a children’s section with playful hiding places, spaces to watch movies and make podcasts, as well as opportunities to learn to play the piano, sew a dress, use the 3D printers, enjoy the view of the Oslo Fjord or just admire the architecture.
Deichman Bjørvika’s ambition is to host two million visitors each year, in a Covid- free situation. Among the safety measures in regards to infection control is a limit on the number of visitors who can be present in the library at the same time: 1,000, compared to the usual limit of 3,000. This limit has been set in consultation with local authorities.
