CASE STUDY

THE ROYAL DANISH LIBRARY

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V
YEAR 3 | SEMESTER 6
SHINSINA - 19136004
MITHRA - 19136020
MELVIN RACHEL JOY - 19136036
ZAHEER MOHAMMED - 19136038

CASE STUDY - LIBRARY SHEET 01

THE ROYAL DANISH LIBRARY
(BLACK DIAMOND)
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

The Royal Library in Copenhagen is the national

library of Denmark and the university library of the
University of Copenhagen. It is among the largest
libraries in the world and the largest in the Nordic
countries.
In 2017 it merged with the State and University
Library in Aarhus to form a combined national
library.

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
Building details
Architect: Schmidt Hammer Lassen
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Construction: 1999
Built Area: 20733 square meter
Type: National Building
Style: Neomodern
Construction started: 1995
Completed: 1999

Concept: To bring a peace surrounding

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Structural system: Reinforced concrete and glass facade.

Floor count: 7

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
The Royal Library is a significant architectural
landmark on the Copenhagen waterfront. The
design aims to create an informal meeting place
that connects history to the modern era. This is
represented in its architectural expression, a
glittering black granite monolith that connects the
old library building (1906) on the campus of the
Royal Palace to the waterfront.

It is one of Copenhagen’s’ architectural gems.

The name refers to the prismatic sharp edges and

the black marble plates and glass of the exterior, that
reflects the water of the harbour. Also from the
wave-like balconies of central foyer, that cuts into
the building as an 24 meter high atrium, there is a
panoramic view over the harbour.

The variety of cultural activities of the new building

has turned The Royal Library into a central cultural
centre of Copenhagen as part of the harbour
promenade.

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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
Building CONTEXT AND HISTORY
The old building of the Slotsholmen site was built in 1906 by Hans Jørgen Holm.
The central hall is a copy of Charlemagne's Palace chapel in the Aachen
Cathedral.
The building is still being used by the library.

At the same site,In 1999, a new building was opened known as the Black
Diamond. The Black Diamond is formed by two black cubes that are slightly tilted
over the street. In between, there is an eight-storey atrium whose walls are white
and wave-shaped, with a couple of transversal corridors that link both sides, and
balconies on every floor. The atrium's exterior wall is made of glass; so, you can
see the sea; and, on the opposite shore, you can see Christianshavn's luxury
buildings.
Three bridges connect the Black Diamond with the old part of the Royal Library;
those three bridges (two small ones for internal transport and a big one with the
circulation desk) go over the road. At the ceiling of the big bridge, there is a huge
painting by Danish painter Per Kirkeby.

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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
The new library’s immediate context is a backdrop of important historical buildings
With its compact form and strikingly spare exterior, the new building perfectly
expresses its cultural significance, while at the same time being open and
approachable.

In the early 1990s, the Danish Ministry of Cultural Affairs launched an international
architecture competition for the design of an extension to the Royal Library on
Slotsholmen. The competition attracted 178 Danish and international architectural
firms and ultimately Schmidt Hammer Lassen was chosen as the winner in 1993.

THE ROYAL LIBRARY TODAY

Today, The Royal Library has five sites: The main library at Slotsholmen,
Copenhagen harbour (in the Black Diamond), covering all subjects and special
collections; one at Nørre Alle, Faculty Library of Natural and Health Sciences; one at
Gothersgade, central Copenhagen, Faculty Library of Social Sciences; one at Amager,
Faculty Library of Humanities; and, one in Studiestræde, central Copenhagen, The
Faculty of Law Library. The annual circulation is 11,400,000 loans (10,900,000 of
these are electronic loans). The members are 32,196 active users. The library is open
to anyone above the age of 18 with a genuine need to use the collections. Special
rules apply for use of rare and valuable items.

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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
SITE DETAILS.
LOCATION : COPENHAGEN, DENMARK.

Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, sits on the coastal

islands of Zealand and Amager. It’s linked to Malmo in
southern Sweden by the Öresund Bridge. Indre By, the
city's historic center, contains Frederiksstaden, an
18th-century rococo district, home to the royal family’s
Amalienborg Palace.
Area: 88.25 km²
Population: 6.2 LAKHS

The new building marks a radical shift from the

traditional library structure and accommodates a
range of cultural facilities. The Royal Danish Library is
situated in the historic heart of Copenhagen, and has
proved to be a catalyst for the subsequent construction
boom along the Copenhagen waterfront in recent years.

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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
SITE PLAN

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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
 CASE STUDY | ROYAL DANISH LIBRARY SHEET 09
SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
BUILDING SCHEME

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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
FORM DEVELOPMENT
The basic shape of the Black Diamond is a box which leans to the left as seen
from the harbour as well as towards the water. At the same time it expands
slightly from the bottom and up and from north to south, giving it a distorted,
prismatic shape.The building is clad in black granite of a type known as
Absolute Black, which was mined in Zimbabwe and then cut and polished in Italy.

The black cladding amounts to 2,500 square metres and each stone weighs 75 kg.
A broad, glazed "crevasse" cleaves the facade into two, letting natural light into
the central atrium inside the building. A glazed band also runs along the building's
ground floor in its full height to allow for panoramic views of
the waterfront from the inside while, at the same time, aiming to give the
Diamond a floating appearance when seen from the water.
The Black Diamond is separated from the old building, known as the Holm Building,
by the busy thoroughfare Christians Brygge which runs along the waterfront.
Several skyways connect the two buildings.

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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
FLOOR PLANS

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
 FIRST FLOOR PLAN (OLD LIBRARY)

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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
 The various functions of the building are united
by the large atrium which is very bright
and has a natural, organic design.
The reading rooms start
from level C up to level F;
each contains 160 study seats and measure
twice the height of a normal room.

Special features, internal:

The painting on the ceiling is made by Per
Kirkeby and is 211 m2.
Special features, external:
The facade consists of 2500 m2 absolute black
granite from Zimbabwe cut in North Italy.
Every stone weights 75 kilo.
Overall Cost:
€ 62.000.000

FOURTH FLOOR PLAN

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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
AREA STATEMENT Max. Max.
Max. Max. Max. Max.
perso perso
perso perso perso perso
ns ns
Event area Length (m) Width (m) Height (m) Area (m2) ns ns ns ns
(Clas (Rec
(Row (U-Sh (Ban (Gala
sroo eptio
s) ape) quet) )
m) n)

The Queen´s Hall 12 143 600

Blixen 3 120 100 30 26 54 100

Holberg 3 54 40 22 24 40

Jensen 3 14 6 6

Saxo 3 30 16 8 16 20

Rifbjerg 3 24 12 12

Atrium 28 400 600

søren k 3 150

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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
 CASE STUDY | ROYAL DANISH LIBRARY SHEET 19
SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
circulation

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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
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SHINSINA (19136036) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
 A monolithic cube bridges the space between the old
library building and the waterfront. This cube is cracked
open in two directions. One, to allow for car traffic to
continue through the site while a skywalk bridges the
divide overtop. Two, down the long axis by a vast glazed
atrium, providing views to the water and daylight deep
into the interior.

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
SYMMETRY GEOMETRY HIERARCHY

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
 The Royal Library has
become an icon for
Copenhagen – a prominent,
accessible and public focal
point for the life in the city.
The aim of the design was to
create an informal meeting
place for citizens in
Copenhagen, students,
tourists and restaurant
guests. The dynamic rooms
are crowded with people and
filled with movement and life,
and in a sophisticated way,
the building connects the
public and private areas. The
purpose of the public space
around the building is to
create a natural meeting
point for everyone in
Copenhagen.

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
interior
Shelves and space.
The new building has doubled the Library’s overall size – the open shelves
can accommodate more than 200,000 books compared to the previous
capacity of 45,000. And where there used to be only one single reading
room, there are now six with a total of 486 seats.

The extension marks a radical shift from traditional library structure and
accommodates a range of cultural facilities. Open and essentially
democratic, the building includes scientific and literary institutions,
exhibition rooms, a bookshop, a café and a restaurant, as well as a roof
terrace and a hall with 600 seats for concerts, theatrical performances
and conferences. The extension has doubled the library’s overall size. The
open shelves can accommodate more than 200,000 books compared to
the previous capacity of 45,000 books. There are six reading rooms with a
total of 486 seats.

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
 CASE STUDY | ROYAL DANISH LIBRARY SHEET 28
SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
LINK BETWEEN OLD LIBRARY.
The new building is skillfully linked to the old library building, which dates
back to 1906. The physical contrasts between old and new buildings highlight
the importance of Denmark’s cultural heritage and the country’s aspiration to
be a leading player in 21st century Europe. The movement and asymmetry of
Schmidt hammer Lassen’s design provides a dramatic counterpoise to the
earlier library, the two elements linked by a clear axis running from the
former vestibule of the old building, now enhanced with a striking artwork by
Per Kirby, through the vast atrium of the new building and out onto the
water’s edge.

The Link is a connecting walkway running from the foyer of the old main
building of the library through a skywalk above Christians Brygge and the
atrium along a gangway to the glazed facade with sweeping views of
Christianshavn and Islands Brygge across the harbour

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
Library facilities
The main floor of the library is the C level which is reached from the ground floor along a
travelator. With the construction of the Black Diamond, the Royal Library on Slotsholmen has
gained 21,500 square meters and now has six reading rooms compared to previously one and
474 reading and study seats compared to 96 prior to the extension. The Information Room holds
60 seats compared to the previous 46.

KIRKEBY-BROEN
The circulation desk is located in the 18-metre-wide main skyway which connects
the old and the new building above Christians Brygge.

CONCERTS-QUEENS HALL
The Queen's Hall is an auditorium seating up to 600 people. It is used for a variety of purposes,
including concerts, conferences, film, ballet and theatre. The hall is equipped with a variable
acoustic system which adapts to the specific type of music.

The Queen Hall is primarily intended as a venue for classical, particularly chamber music, but
also jazz and other forms of rhythmical music is played there.The Library has its own resident
chamber music ensemble known as the Diamond Ensemble which is frequently joined by
international guest musicians.

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
READING ROOM
The reading rooms on level C to F all face the atrium which provides them with natural light.
The reading rooms each consist of double-height rooms with a projecting mezzanine floor.

There are 160 study seats in the reading room and it is possible to obtain a permanent seat
for a specific amount of time on application. The reference collection comprises a total of
65,000 volumes distributed over two floors. The emphasis of the collection is on the
humanities and theology but all the library's subject fields are covered. The room has a
specially secured area where protected material may be studied. It is possible to apply for a
permanent study seat for a prescribed period.

The Reading Room East has 130 study seats and its primary purpose is to give access to a
large number of newspapers and periodicals and, at the same time, to provide a large
number of study seats for other purposes. The preceding three years of publications of
4,000—3200 foreign and 800 Danish—periodicals are kept alphabetically along the shelves.
There are 70,000 microfilm spools of both Danish and foreign newspapers. It is not possible to
study restricted materials in this reading room. The target group is students and others, who
require knowledge on a high level.

The two remaining reading rooms located in the Black Diamond are those of the Centre for
Maps, Prints and Photographs and the Centre for Music and Theatre.

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
INTERNATIONAL AUTHORS' STAGE

The Queen's Hall is also used for a programme of lectures by leading International
writers and intellectuals.

EXHIBITIONS
The Black Diamond has two main exhibition areas. The larger of the two is the
Peristyle (Danish: Søjlehallen) which covers 600 square metres and is located at
level K. It hosts a variety of cultural and historical exhibitions, including those held
by the National Museum of Photography. The other, the Montana Hall, was
created in 2009 and serves as the treasury of the library. It is here that the rarest
pieces from the national heritage are exhibited

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
Library facilities
The Royal Library extension on the waterfront, The Black Diamond, was inaugurated in September 1999.
The building is shaped like a sculptural monolith - a 'shrine' dedicated to the national cultural heritage of the library.
The building (20,733 square metre), with 450 rooms and 800 doors requiring keys, covers eight floors including a basement.
The Diamond is covered with 2,500 square metre Absolute Black granite, mined in Zimbabwe, cut and polished in northern
Italy. Each stone weighs 75 kg.
The steel joist in the Atrium, weighing one ton per metre, carries the glass façade. Like the 'figures of seven', which provide
anchorage for the glass façade, it was manufactured in Poland.
The prestressed Atrium facade consists of a system of push rods and traction cables.
The load of one vertical system is 10 tons.
The wavy walls of the Atrium are calculated by computer. More than 10,000 coordinates from the basis for the moulds in
which the concrete was cast.
The height is 29 metre from the Rotunda floor to the glass ceiling in the Atrium.
The reading room glass walls, made in Germany, are 6 metres high, 2.4 metres wide and 16 mm thick.
Weighing 576 kg each, they are suspended in jaws and guided by a rail in the floor.
The flooring of the balconies, walkways and corridors is oiled maple.
Blue Oyster sandstone from Spain is used elsewhere
American maple, natural leather, stainless steel, black rubber and frosted glass have been used for the customized
furnishing.
The fountain basin in front of the main entrance is covered with azobe wood
The walkway on third floor connects the Diamond with Preben Hansen's building from 1968 and H.J. Holm's library building
from 1906.

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
ATRIUM
The building has seven story plus a basement. The solid black cube is
divided in two by a central glazed section, the atrium form, housing the
majority of public functions. The atrium and the public area are
naturally ventilated. Interrupting the imposing mass of the façade, this
glazed section reveals the dynamic interior filled with movement and
life. With its interweaving staircases and walkways, as well as a
succession of curved walls, the vast open atrium space forms the
natural centerpiece of the building. At the same time it also serves as a
significant source of daylight which is gathered and dispersed
throughout the building.

In contrast to the stringent and dark exterior the atrium creates a

bright and organic central space in the library. It is toplit and bounded
by wavy balconies. From the atrium a travelator leads up to the C level
which holds the main library facilities.

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
First level
The first level contains most of the more active and public functions (cafe,
restaurant, concert hall) while the upper floors hold most of the quiet
spaces (stacks, offices and reading rooms). A monumental moving walkway
sweeps visitors from the waterside of the first level up to the second,
taking the architectural promenade to its extreme.

The Fish
• Home to Special Collections
• Book repair
• Gathering area for people
• Area for research, studying, and reading
• It takes its shape from the site by following the curve of
Christians Brygges and the harbor entrance.
• The contrasting colors and shapes of the Fish and the
Diamond emphasize the independent existence of the two
buildings

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
Facilities
WI-FI SHOP
The wireless network is accessible to all users of the
library and covers the entire library. To gain access to PARKING
the network, you need to log on to 'eduroam' or
'KB-Guest' - the latter requires that you accept the
CLOAKROOM AND LOCKERS
conditions for use.
Lockers are found on the ground floor and on the 1st
and 4th floors. The lockers are operated via a four digit
COMPUTERS FOR GENERAL USE pin code of your own choice. If your bag or suitcase is
too big for the lockers, we have extra large ones. Talk to
TOILETS the staff at The Black Diamond Information services and
Toilets are found on the ground floor on each side of they will help you.You will find the cloakroom to the left
the atrium. In addition, there is a small toilet located of the main entrance, right by the toilets.
on the second floor (same floor as the three large
reading rooms).
ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION
MULTISPECTRAL DIGITISATION AND ANALYSIS
BOOK CRADLES
ACID-FREE ARCHIVAL SUPPLIES
CONSULTANCY

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
INFERENCE
The new library has seven stories plus a basement. The solid black
cube is divided in two by a vast glazed atrium, housing the majority of
public functions. This central space, affording panoramic views over
the waterfront, also serves as a significant source of daylight, which is
dispersed throughout the building.
The building materials used are few – stone, steel, glass, wood, and
concrete. Columns and walls are smooth, cast on site in silk matt,
colored concrete. Stone, steel, glass, and wood are left “in nature” to
reflect the simplicity and logic of the building. The delicate colors of
the materials provide the rooms with a neutral backdrop to the
activities taking place in the building.

Art is an integrated part of the library’s architecture. It is

represented by five artists whose works adorn the Lending
Department Bridge, the Queen’s Hall, the Fish, and Søren
Kierkegaard’s Plads. The works are interpretations of the place and
the special character of the rooms.

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
BORDER CONDITIONS: boundaries, peripheries, enclosures,
transparency, permeability …

CONTINUITY & DISCONTINUITIES: continuance of edges or

surfaces, visual & other means of relating interior& exterior,
relations with topography & landscape…

DOMINANCE: dominance of one part over others, spatial

hierarchy & distribution…

MOTION & MOVEMENT: The movement patterns inside and

outside the building, spaces for circulation &spaces for
meeting/gathering, paths connecting the building to its context…

INTERFACE: Hinges,thresholds,edges; spaces for interconnection…

TECTONICS: Tectonic qualities of the building, choice of material,

hinges, structural aspects…

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
COMPARATIVE STUDY
● It is a peaceful site and the main concept is to utilise that and also The design aims to create an informal meeting
place that connects history to the modern era.
● Monochromatic building
● The design aims to create an informal meeting place that connects history to the modern era.
● No parking ,giving more importance to healthy society ,but they can provide a good parking facilities
● Steel framed with glass facade structure
● Surroundings are not distracted with anything ,the street road also utilise by making a link like skywalk to old
library
● Accessibility is good for all user groups
● Good reading space and study area and also lockers permitted
● Giving panoramic view to the sea when the blocks are separated with an atrium
● The Royal Danish Library is much more than a library. It is a cultural institution that unites the function of a library
with a whole range of different cultural facilities: a cafe, bookshop, exhibition room, restaurant, scientific and
literary institutions, roof terrace and a 600-seat hall for concerts, theatrical performances and conferences.
● Hierarchy,symmetry and geometry plays a great role with more light and ventilation
● They utilise surrounding space as a small gathering spaces
● Smooth and flowing surface floors
● Double height ceiling
● There is a good link between old library and new library and also according to the building context.

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SHINSINA (19136004) | MITHRA (19136020) MELVIN (19136036) | ZAHEER (19136038)
THANK YOU