瑞典国家图书馆“Anne·et”项目

The main body of the building housing Sweden’s National Library is located in the city centre of Stockholm, in the park “Humlegården”, and was inaugurated in 1878. A former 1960’s underground stack module was refurbished in 1997 and converted into an area for public use docked to the rear of the main building - today known as the “Annex”.

Glass roof over the underground area “Annexet” in park “Humlegården”The Annex was created to provide a public space for the library by converting an underground book storage building added in 1965. The new facility contained an auditorium, a microfilm reading room, meeting rooms and a large exhibition space. However, these public areas proved difficult to use. The exhibition areas, for instance, did not function well with regard to climate and security issues. The interior design was impractical and the areas as a result were unoccupied and empty. Elsewhere in the library the seating facilities were often overflowing with visitors.Issues for the “Annexet project”• Few spaces available for users except for quiet reading rooms

• No areas for informal communication and group activites

• Need for areas for Audio Visual Media research services

• Inadequate exhibition areas

• Areas suited for presentation of digital material needed

• A huge volume not (well) used

• Unfriendly and impractical atmosphere

• Lack of study places combined with unused public areas

• Lack of cafeteria available all opening hours

This was our vision

We wanted to create an area with new functions and with a welcoming, pleasant atmosphere so that this space too could become a well-used, practical space for our visitors.

• New services to our users – including meeting point, areas for work in informal groups

• Use the unused volume in the Annex

• New user friendly, nice and attractive public areas

• New well functioning facilities for the Audio Visual Media Research Services

• New study places

• New Periodicals Reading Room

• Enhanced functionality in the Microfilm Reading Room

• Enhanced Auditorium Facilities

• New Exhibition Areas

• Catering services all open hours

This is how we did it

The proposal was to retain as much of the main theme from 1997 which allowed for natural light incoming from the glass roof, enhancing an elegant straight staircase leading to lower levels. By compartmentalizing this space, the overall volume effect could be improved. Encircling the open deck observation areas adjacent to the staircase are now new reading places, backlit by reflecting railings of glass.

• With respect to previous architects and concepts – ( Jan Henriksson 1997- and others)• Goal - Making it attractive

• Working together – Library and Architects

• Work with daylight and lighting, The project won the Swedish Lighting Award 2014.

• Study visits & sketches,• Relating to existing artworks.

The result

We created new floor space, new study places, new meeting rooms, additional new seats for informal meetings, new research study rooms for audio visual material, a new periodicals reading area with room for 1000 magazine titles and a high-security exhibit area for presenting valuable materials . The refurbished building has now a user-friendly and pleasant atmosphere, and has become a modern and useful addition to the main old building.

The new cafeteria is located adjacent the cloakroom and is immediately visible when you enter the library. It is open during all the library’s opening hours.

The new exhibition areas allows for the Library to have rare and exiting items on display.

Reactions from both users and staff have been very positive – both verbal and shown in user behaviour. The refurbished area is appreciated as a new and welcome modern addition to the venerable and impressive main building of the Swedish National Library.