Urban Mediaspace (2009)
Schmidt Hammer Lassen - SHL
Facts:
Architect
schmidt hammer lassen architects
Client
The Municipality of Aarhus
Client partner
Realdania
Area
35,600 m²
Construction sum
€ 215 million excl. VAT
Competition
2009, first prize in restricted international competition
Status
Construction period 2011-2014
Full-service consultant
schmidt hammer lassen architects
Engineer
Alectia Consulting Engineers
Landscape architect
Arkitekt Kristine Jensens Tegnestue
Client consultant
Rambøll Denmark
Other consultants
Bahn arkitekter
Other consultants during the competition
Bosch & Fjord Interior Design & Art
The Danish School of Librarians by Dr. art Henrik Jochumsen and Dr. art Casper Hvenegaard Rasmussen
Description:
Urban Mediaspace will be Scandinavia’s largest public library and represents a new generation of modern hybrid libraries and thus the building contains multiple potentials. The building is situated at the mouth of the Aarhus River in one of the most prominent sites of the city centre of Aarhus.
Urban Mediaspace is part of the ambitious district plan to revitalise the former industrial cargo docks on the harbour front by connecting the area both visually and physically to the historic centre of the city.
The leading idea is a covered urban space. A large heptagonal slice hovers above a glazed prism, which is resting on a square of ice flake-shaped stairs fanning out to the edge of the sea. The ice flakes create wide plateaus and accommodate recreational activities and outdoor events.
The heptagon will contain the media house administration and offices for rent. The glass building below is transparent and allows passers-by visual access to the activities in the building while the users have a 360 degree panoramic view from the inside. The library contains several divisions in staggered levels that cover literature and media areas, exhibitions, children’s theatre, interactive activities, public events, cafés and restaurants and hence, they form an eventful promenade through the building.
Below ground the large parking area will be available to the whole city. Part of the traffic along the waterfront will run beneath the building. To boost public transportation the new tram will have a stop here.
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