Libraries for children, teenagers and adults are split between three of the differently shaped floors, while a concert hall sits on the top.

Perforated aluminium gives the building its bumpy, golden facade and also lines the walls of a triple-height atrium that cuts through the interior.

Entrances lead into this atrium from both sides of the building, while balconies branch across it on the upper floors.

Windows for some of the rooms are concealed behind the metal cladding and are only visible after dark.

Above: photograph is by Stamers Kontor

The architects won a competition to design the building back in 2009 - see our earlier story for the original proposals.

Above: photograph is by Stamers Kontor

We've featured a few golden buildings in recent months, including the new wing at the Musée du Louvre in Paris. See more stories about golden architecture and interiors here, and see more stories about libraries here.

Photographs above are by Adam Mørk, apart from where otherwise stated.

Above: photograph is by Kåre Viemose

Here's a project description from COBE:

The Library is an extension of an existing culture house in Copenhagen’s north-west. The extension fulfills four main functions: a children’s library, a youth library, a library for adults and a concert hall.

Above: photograph is by Stamers Kontor

The building’s unique design is comprised of four golden boxes stacked on top of one another, each containing one of the building’s four main functions. Deliberately designed to resemble a stack of books, the building’s floors each contain a world of their own, including individually staged scenography.

Above: photograph is by Stamers Kontor

The spaces between the boxes are used as flexible spaces. Moving through the building, you experience an interplay between the different staged spatialities in each box versus an open, flexible space outside and between the boxes.

An important element in the architecture is the golden brown siding inside and out of extruded, gold anodized aluminium, which offers the possibility of varying the transparency of the fenestration and creates a uniform facade expression.

Above: photograph is by Jens Lindhe

Seen from the outside, the facade changes over day depending on how the daylight falls. Some windows are placed behind the expanded metal, which is barely visible in daylight, but clearly appears in the evening when the house is illuminated from the inside.

Above: photograph is by Jens Lindhe

North-west is an area in Copenhagen located between the lively, dense and diverse urban neighbourhood of Nørrebro and the villa neighborhood at the edge of the city.

Above: photograph is by Kåre Viemose

Many people live and work in this multiethnic area.

Yet, since the area is located in the vicinity to numerous entry roads, most Copenhagener’s only use the north-west as passage when going in and out of the city by car. Located here, The Library appears as a golden gem, beautifying an often disregarded part of town - a much needed institution for arts and culture in the area.

Above: photograph is by Stamers Kontor

Place: Copenhagen, Denmark
Client: Copenhagen Municipality
Program: Transformation of existing culture house and extension containing library and concert hall
Size: Existing 1.150 m2, new build 2.000 m2
Status: 1st prize in competition 2009, completed 2011
Architects: COBE and TRANSFORM

Above: photograph is by Stamers Kontor

Landscape Architects: Schönherr
Engineers: Wessberg
Contractor: Bdr. A&B Andersen
Budget: DKK 42 m.

Concept sketch one

Concept sketch two

Concept sketch three

Ground floor plan - click above for larger image

First floor plan - click above for larger image

Second floor plan - click above for larger image

Third floor plan - click above for larger image

Section - click above for larger image

Section - click above for larger image

The post The Library by COBE
and Transform appeared first on Dezeen.

Construction has begun on an aluminium-clad museum in Norway by Danish architecture studios COBE and Transform.

The Maritime Museum and Science Centre will be situated beside the river in the harbour town of Porsgrunn.

The roof of the two-storey building will be divided into square portions, all pitching in different directions.

A staircase at the centre of the museum will lead visitors up to a flexible first-floor exhibition hall, where the visible profile of the roof will suggest the location of possible partitions.

A central entrance hall leading to all other rooms will be located on the ground floor.

This isn’t the first time the two Danish firms have collaborated – see our earlier story about a competition-winning design for a cultural centre and library in Copenhagen.

Here's some more information from COBE:

The Danish architecture offices COBE and TRANSFORM start construction of Porsgrunn’s new Maritime Museum and Science Center

Today the construction of the new Maritime Museum and Science Center starts in Porsgrunn in Norway. The building is designed by the Danish architecture offices COBE and TRANSFORM and conveys Norway’s trans- formation from a seafaring nation to a modern society based on knowledge industry. The new Maritime Museum and Science Center is expected to be completed already in autumn 2012.

A new landmark in Porsgrunn

The iconic character of the new Maritime Museum and its attractive location at the river close to the city center makes this new building a natural landmark for the city of Porsgrunn. Furthermore, the new museum building is the first step towards a big new master plan development for Porsgrunn City Center - also designed by COBE and TRANSFORM. The city of Porsgrunn has a long maritime history of shipping and the unique development of the region is clearly visible in the existing remarkable building structure of the area. The concept of the museum shows a high level of sensitivity towards the existing small buildings yet simultaneously stands out as a contemporary public building.

Lars Bendrup, director at TRANSFORM, says: ”The new Maritime Museum and Science Center starts up an important process to turn the back of the city to the front. In the future, the city of Porsgrunn will be oriented towards the river. The signaling effect will therefore be crucial to the city’s new situation”.

9 building volumes with pitched roofs

Taking into account the surrounding building structure, the new building is composed of 9 smaller building volumes with tilted and pitched roofs that are assembled into a larger building unit. A characteristic aluminum façade outlines the shape of the building and provides a vivid impression by reflecting the lights and colors of the surrounding landscape.

All public functions of the building are situated on the ground floor and have direct access to the outdoor areas including the new promenade towards the river. The central entrance area is the building’s main room from where all other rooms are distributed. This multifunctional space is defined by a central characteristic staircase that folds down from above and invites visitors upstairs to the large, enclosed exhibition area. Here various room heights and a distinct ceiling line emphasizes an airy and continuous space. The exhibition space is composed as an open flexible space, gently subdi- vided by the roof into 9 different spatial experiences. The 9 spatialities can be separated or combined thereby providing a sound functional setting for small and large exhibitions.
Dan Stubbergaard, owner of COBE, says: “The new Maritime Museum and Science Center balances between contextual adaptation and modernity.The interpretation of the context’s pitched roofs and small building volumes create the frames for a unique intenior with varying, vivid spatialities.”

The project is done in collaboration with the engineering firm Sweco and is expected to be completed in autumn 2012.

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by COBE and Transform appeared first on Dezeen.