Dokk1, Aarhus, Denmark

Scandinavia's Largest Public Library

Dokk1 represents a new generation of modern hybrid libraries. Situated at the mouth of the Aarhus River, the building also houses a citizen service center, office space, fully-subterranean automated parking for 1,000 cars, a light rail transit station, and a new harbor-side public square. Dokk1 is the largest construction project by the municipality of Aarhus in the city’s history.

Client: The Municipality of Aarhus and Realdania
Size: 383,195 square feet
Completion Date: 2015
Sustainability: Danish Low Energy Class Building 2015

Awards:
IDA Design Awards, 2017
European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award Nomination, 2017
A+ Popular Choice Award, 2016
Public Library of the Year Award, 2016
Commendation, Architectural Review MIPIM Future Projects Awards, 2015
City of Aarhus Architecture Prize, 2015
Best Collaboration Award, 2012

Dokk1 is Scandinavia's largest public library that represents a new generation of modern hybrid libraries.

The design is a covered urban space where a large polygonal slice hovers above a glazed prism, resting on a square of ice flake-shaped stairs that fan out to the edge of the sea.

A fully automated below ground car park and a station on the Light Rail Transit system makes Dokk1 a central traffic node for people coming to Aarhus.

The top slice contains offices, while the glassed space below offers 360-degree panoramic views and allows passers-by visual access to the activities within.

Dokk1 appears light, with a clean rawness in line with Scandinavian tradition.

In contrast to this simplicity in construction, clever use of color and materials inside give areas character and facilitate easy orientation.

Dokk1, Aarhus, Denmark

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