SHL architects won an international competition to design ‘Urban Mediaspace’, the largest public library in Scandinavia. The € 228 million scheme, located in Aarhus, Denmark, will become a new visual and cultural focal point for the city whilst pioneering the next generation of library design.

The competition to design ‘Mediaspace’ and ‘New Central Urban Waterfront’ is one of the biggest architectural competitions in Denmark ever.

SHL Architects’ innovative, 30.000 m2 scheme reassesses traditional concepts of library design. Instead of a building focused around books, ‘Urban Mediaspace’ is a hub of social interaction, incorporating interior and exterior recreational spaces for studying, socializing, and relaxing. The building will also have the capacity to host multi-media and cultural events.

The building’s distinctive heptagonal-shape design will be a landmark in Aarhus. The library’s offices will have impressive panoramic views over the harbor with steps leading out on to the waterfront. SHL Architects’ design connects the library to the Aarhus River by creating an external recreational area that will run along the south side of the ‘Urban Mediaspace’. The building’s glazed façade will create light, well-ventilated interior spaces whilst also making the inside of the library visible to passersby, inviting the community inside.

Urban Mediaspace is part of a wider plan to regenerate the old cargo docks on the harbor front, connecting it to the old city center. The competition jury described SHL Architects’ design as: ‘a beautiful and highly-functional city harbor space, reflecting a deep understanding of the challenges faced when designing a public library. The new areas will offer flexible and exciting spaces with many possibilities for socializing and contemplation.’

Partner of SHL Architects Kim Holst Jensen said: ‘We are delighted to have won such a prestigious and culturally important project. At SHL Architects we believe that library design is about more than just books. Libraries revolve around people and should provide flexible spaces for social interaction as well as studying. ‘Urban Mediaspace’ further establishes the practice as leaders of this democratic, social kind of library design.’

Read the competition brief.

See pictures from the projects of Mecanoo and A-team.