SPIRAL OF KNOWLEDGE - A Media Library at Dalarna Architecture

SPIRAL OF KNOWLEDGE – A Media Library at Dalarna by ADEPT is a reinterpretation of the library. A multi-functional event and knowledge center, targeting students and teachers as well as the local community. Dalarna Media Arena matches a new library culture, staging a wealth of opportunities for events and inspiration. The library and plaza at Högskolan Dalarna will be the city’s third space – a dynamic meeting point with activities for students, employees and visitors.

Now we see some more detail about SPIRAL OF KNOWLEDGE – A Media Library.

SPIRAL OF KNOWLEDGE – A Media Library at Dalarna by ADEPT

ADEPT WINS SWEDISH MEDIA LIBRARY COMPETITION WITH A MULTIFUNCTIONAL “ SPIRAL OF KNOWLEDGE ”

Danish ADEPT, Japanese SOU FUJIMOTO Architects and an advisory team consisting of Topotek1, Rambøll A/S and Bosch & Fjord win the competition for a new library in Falun, Sweden, with the project “Dalarna Media Arena”. The project, which consists of a 3000m2 library and an adjoining plaza, is a part of Dalarna University campus.

Project Fact File :

Architects: ADEPT
Location: Högskolan Dalarna Akademin Språk & medier, Campus Falun, Högskolegatan 2, 791 31 Falun, Sweden
Area: 3000.0 sqm
Year: 2014
Photographs: Wilhelm Rejnus & Linus Flodin, Kaare Viemose

Engineers: Ramböll Sweden Ab, Sweco Systems Ab, Brandskyddslaget
Competition Team: Adept, Rambøll, Sou Fujimoto, Topotek1, Bosch & Fjord
Contractor: Hmb Construction Ab
Artwork: Facade Developed In Collaboration Btw Adept And Artist Jeppe Hein (Dk)

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From The Desk Of Architect:

SPIRAL OF KNOWLEDGE – Dalarna Media Library is organized as a ’spiral of knowledge’ identifying a new library culture that stages a wide range of experiences and inspiration. The natural terrain of the surrounding landscape continues as a ramp that spirals up through the central atrium of the library, its heart, where all search of information and orientation take place.

The SPIRAL OF KNOWLEDGE creates a varied study environment allowing the students to move about in the heart space of the library or to withdraw to more quiet and calm areas along the facade.

The variation of sound levels and the differentiation of activities creates a versatile library that is rich in experiences. The building has its very own spatial character uniting library and multimedia functions to create synergy with the existing university complex.

The characteristic double facade with reflecting horizontal lamellae fronting a wood cladding is developed in collaboration with Danish artist Jeppe Hein.

Instead of creating an isolated piece of art work Jeppe Hein and Adept has developed the competition design for the façade into a detailed and refi ned expression with an immateriality that mirrors its surroundings and the people in it with broken reflections.

The lamellaes are made from highly polished stainless steel while their wooden background is a Siberian larch.

SPIRAL OF KNOWLEDGE – The new library is the main attraction and new entrance arriving to the university. To emphasize this, the surrounding spaces are transformed from a large parking lot to an integrated urban plaza, which handles the user and visitor flows at the same time as it optimizes the public spaces around the building into defined activity zones and intimate recreational areas.

The library functions are pushed onto the new plaza marking the new main entrance with life and activities. Dalarna Media Library SPIRAL OF KNOWLEDGE will come to attract the community of Falun acting as a motivating generator for both citizens and local businesses.

The library has its own spatial character in which library and multimedia functions unite and create synergy with the existing university. Wooden facades integrate the building in the surroundings, reflecting the local tradition of using wood as construction material.

Dalarna Media Plaza is created in addition to the library, together they form a new landmark for Hogskolan Dalarna. Through a simple reorganization the car park becomes a new surface with ‘islands’ of activities.

The programming of the Plaza is flexible and will be developed in the user process. The Plaza, which is a mix of recreational functions and furniture, serves as arrival area and hang-out space for users of Hogskolan, the library and visitors in the area.

This SPIRAL OF KNOWLEDGE will help to attract people in the neighborhood, thereby anchoring the library in the local community. In addition the ambition is to strengthen the collaboration between regional and international educational and research institutions.

With its public functions and activities Dalarna Media Library will become a dynamo in the area and an attraction for both local inhabitants and businesses. Activities in the café, exhibitions, lectures, continuing education, etc. will provide fertile ground for international exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The jury minutes stated: “In conclusion it’s an exciting building rich on variety and with many possible meeting points integrated in a coherent environment. The proposal has solved the total program in an interesting, exciting and playful manner – inside as well as outside.”

“The library has really become the study environment and the meeting place that we hoped for it to be. The students have taken it to their hearts instantly and uses group spaces and the rest of the study options intensively. Often all the group rooms are fully booked.

The Library has even become a very popular place to meet each other – and already we will have a load of activities planned to take place in the arena.” Margareta Malmgren, Library Director, Dalarna University.