Opened in 1928, built from a investigation project with a budget of two million SEK that in year 1918 was given to architect Gunnar Asplund who spent a few years researching in Europe and US. Stockholm City library became the major work for Gunnar Asplund and a sign for him as a front figure in Swedish Grace.
The site is Sveavägen 73 in Stockholm, at the edge of an ridge that divides the districts Norrmalm and Östermalm. Neighbouring buildings are from late 19th century and in an area where the new university was to be placed. In the corner where the major street Odengatan meets Sveavägen, as it stretches from Stockholm northern entrance and into the city centre.
The building is a simple composition of a cube and a tube. The tube is rising in the centre and creates a monumental appearance. So those also the broad stair towards the framed entrance. Asplunds first classical design had a cupola instead of the tube. The final outcome had more purified design according to its function and geometry. Only a few ornaments where allowed like Ivar Johanssons Egyptian inspired relief in the entrance, and a fries with different foreign writing symbols on the outside around the building. Gunnar Asplund is most famous for this Swedish Grace building, but this final outcome is also in line with his movement from classical design towards his modernistic design as he used later from the 1930’s
The function of the library is of a single open space containing 700 000 books , (the tube), surrounded by study rooms and light gardens. Introducing in Sweden an US system of public bookshelves where the costumers could pick a book without assistance. Renovations has made the library accessible with wheelchair and lifts are installed in-between the big rooms.
Author and photografer: Åke Hjalmarsson Internet sources: www.wikipedia.com Written sources:Att bygga ett land -1900-talets svenska arkitektur, Claes Caldenby, Arkitekturmuseet/byggforskningsrådet 1998 ISBN 91-540-5813-9
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