The Public Library in Stockholm is a magical place. Asplund's design is still inspiring with its Timeless form. The new extension in phase I - the Magic Box - is a contemporary interpretation respecting its surroundings. The straightforward layout keeping the existing buildings intact is clearly read as an open book. The Magic Box is rising lightly above the cityscape offering panoramic view of the city from each floor. In phase II an optional floating annex will be added and the underground functions will be inhabited making the Magic Box accessible through the future shopping centre and the metro. Redirecting those library functions from the old library will free an additional 7500 sq.m. and will transform the Asplund library into the Asplund museum - celebrating the Swedish culture and Gunnar Asplund's architecture alongside the new library. Freeing the ground for public spaces and designing floating gardens as meeting places on the Annexes roofs will maintain a strong green interaction with the city.
INPUT
The new library is equipped with sustainable breathing envelope. This envelope is layered with various systems such as photovoltaic cells wrapped around relevant facades and the roof. The outer curtain walls function also as temperature, wind, rain and sun barriers. Together with the central vertical and horizontal core of the box the library will be cost-effective to run and economical to maintain. The Library's void represents our imagination through kinetic sun paintings that will generate the movement of the sun in the inner dynamic kaleidoscope bringing into being the inner space of the Magic Box.
OUTPUT
The mass of the Magic Box represents pure knowledge through the use of constant digital images output on its facades serving as a communicator with the city. This output reflects and affects the surrounding environment giving onscreen information while increasing curiosity and inviting the public to explore the library from within. The pure expression of the outer space coexists with the flexible and adaptable floor plans and the unique interior void capturing the complex knowledge we can gain in this modern library capsule. The Magic Box library is housing once again books and dreams altogether.
Team:
Cory