Week Five & Six :: Project Two

Learning Centre Exemplar Analysis

Royal Library Copenhagen [Schmidt Hammer Lassen]

-       One of the most significant architectural landmarks on the Copenhagen waterfront. Building is known as the “Black Diamond” – clad in black granite with clean-cut surfaces and sharp angles.

-       Located on the river front in the historic part of Copenhagen; its redevelopment has prompted a development boom along the waterfront. 

-       Surrounded by a number of important historical buildings including the Danish Parliament, Christiansborg Palace, The Danish State Archives and a number of significant Museums.

-       The library incorporates a number of different facilities including a café and a restaurant, a bookshop, exhibition space, scientific and literary institutions, a roof terrace, a 600-seat concert hall/ conference space.

-       Old library (dating back to 1906) linked to new building through a clear axis; this is demonstrated literally through the walkway over Christians Brygge (a main road separating the new building from the old). The axis runs through to the atrium of the new building on the water front. 

-       Glazed section breaking up the solid black granite exterior – providing insight into the dynamism of the space inside. The central open atrium is naturally ventilated and enables travel throughout the building. It also provides most of the natural light to the building’s inside spaces.  

-       Building appears to be “floating” on the water with a glazed vertical strip running along the base of the building (as seen in this picture).

Source: http://www.archinnovations.com/featured-projects/civic/schmidt-hammer-lassen-architects-the-royal-library-copenhagen/

-       Building broke from tradition designed in 1993 with construction finished by 1999.

-       The building’s inclined river façade, reflection across its shiny surface, glass panel along the bottom giving the appearance of “floating” and the placement of windows, etc all suggest movement. This is in contrast to the feeling of solidarity and rigidity suggested because of the shear size and presence of the structure.

-       Interior of the building is designed to be vastly different from the exterior – atrium has a very organic form – wave like shaped mezzanines appear to be cutting through the building. There is a lot of natural light penetrating this space and the view out to the harbour also adds to this feeling of the organic.  Light also penetrates through from a large skylight in the atrium; this, along with the glass curtain wall looking over the water outside are the two main sources of light.

          Source: http://www.arcspace.com/architects/schmidt_hammer_lassen/royal_lib/ 

      












 Source: http://www.worldtravelimages.net/Copenhagen_Harbour.htm

     

   Source: http://www.dreamstime.com/editorial-image-a-modern-library-the-royal-library-copenhagen-image12975824

Reflection:

I do find it slightly more difficult to relate to this building; perhaps because of its scale but I think more because of its huge façades. I find the building to be very dominating in the site; but that’s not to say that it’s not successful. I particularly like the façade of the building that is seen from the river with the glass atrium in the middle. It responds to its surroundings in a different way to most of the other buildings I’ve examined. It stands in stark contrast rather than trying to mimic or fit in with the surrounding buildings. Perhaps; however, the key element to this building is the use of highly reflective materials on the exterior including glass, and most predominantly black granite that picks up and echoes reflections of the water and the surrounding buildings and the movement of traffic and pedestrians outside. The use of these materials well and truly gives the building the prestige it needs to exist in this area of the city; surrounded by a number of important historical buildings I’ve realised that it needed to be dominating and “heroic”. Inside I think visitors would be surprised by the buildings lightness and openness. The atrium is filled with these free-flowing forms that are the floors of the library, with mostly very open plan spaces existing within the floors. The building appears to respond well to the needs of the city and, at a closer look, also responds to the surrounding streetscape and riverfront. I probably won’t take much inspiration from this building for the overall design of my learning centre as I feel that the Howard Smith Wharves don’t really call for such a grand scale building; but I do like many elements of this building as I have mentioned above.