Oslo Public Library

Deichman Library
General information
Type Public Library
Architectural style current: Neoclassical
planned: Functionalism and Deconstructivism
Location Oslo, Norway
Completed current: 1933
planned:2014 (Expected)
Opening current: 1933
Technical details
Structural system planned: 3 see-through cubes in light grey/white with openings on the left and right sides on the two other ones.
Design and construction
Architect current: Nils Reiersen
planned: Lund Hagem Arkitekter AS
Main contractor Diagonale
Website
www.deichman.no/side/in-english

Oslo Public Library, formally known as the Deichman Library (Norwegian: Deichmanske bibliotek), is the municipal public library serving Oslo, Norway and is the country's first and largest library.

Opening in 1785 after a bequest of 6,000 books and an endowment from Carl Deichman,[1] the library now employs over 300 people and has sixteen branches throughout the city.

The library contains several specialised departments, such as The Multilingual Library which serves the entire country with its collection in approximately thirty-five languages, the music department, and the department for children and youth.

The current neoclassical main building, designed by Nils Reiersen,[2][3] dates from 1933. A new building is to be constructed at Bjørvika,[4] with Lund Hagem Arkitekter AS winning the competition to design the new Deichman Library.[5]

References

  1. John Ansteinsson, "The Library History of Norway", The Library Journal 45 (1920) 19-24, 57-62, p. 22.
  2. Arne Arnesen, "The Deichman Library in Oslo," Scandinavian Review 20 (1932) p. 428.
  3. Nils Olaf Reiersen (1878-1950) at arc! 2009, accessed March 15, 2010: "Reiersens viktigste arbeid er utvilsomt hovedbygningen for det Deichmanske Bibliotek på Hammersborg i Oslo (1922-33, monumental nyklassisisme, østfløyen er tilføyet i 1973)." - "Reiersen's most important work is undoubtedly the main building of the Deichman Library at Hammersborg in Oslo (1922-33, monumental neoclassicism, the east wing was added in 1973)."
  4. "Welcome to Deichmanske bibliotek / Oslo Public Library" (in Norwegian). Oslo Public Library. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  5. Deichman Library Competition Winner, archiCentral, May 4, 2009, accessed March 15, 2010.