Architectural Competition; Asplund , the Stockholm City Library. | Soudani Mo'men

When we first approached and analyzed the project, it therefore appeared to us several problems which definitely had to be solved in order to develop the Asplund public library from an architectural point of view, the best way possible.

These problems were focused into two main points;  -a) visual problem, b)  functional problem.

*Visual Problem,

Due to its historic, cultural and social essences, “The Temple of Book” became a unique symbol of architecture in Sweden and most of the public libraries in the world, therefore it was important to keep and raise its value without messing with its visual memory, in addition to the scattered annexes which created a less united bond between the building points.

Therefore it was necessary to combine the annexes which represents a new pole of power together with the existing opposite pole referred to by the “Temple of book” and connecting both poles with the newly created entrance to create a new bond between them, and last but not least connecting all these buildings together with steel structured glass shell, providing a panoramic view for the public from the park.

 *Functional Problem,

This problem mainly was caused by the scattering of the annex blocks and the differences in the building levels. These points caused circulation defects and less communication between all the buildings.

We therefore created a new path linking all the buildings together which created new spaces for library and public uses, even though new spaces were also created within the level differences creating new library halls.