Deichman Bjørvika, which opened in 2020, is Oslo’s main library. Located on the city’s harbor front, the public library is an architectural standout. The immense building is covered entirely in thin, vertical windows, and it has an impressive cantilevered fourth floor that juts out 65 feet above the plaza where the entrance to the building is situated.
Photo: Visit OSLO / Didrick Stenersen
Inside, Deichman Bjørvika is just as exciting. The library has six floors, all flooded in light thanks to the many windows and three huge geometric skylights. The decor is angular, and the subtle tones provide the peaceful atmosphere you expect from a library.
The design for this immense and one-of-a-kind library is the work of architecture studios Lundhagem in collaboration with Atelier Oslo, which wanted “to create an open and intriguing building in which you are constantly invited around the next corner, to discover new places,” according to the Atelier Oslo website.
Photo: Erik Thallaug / Deichman Bjorvika
While it’s dedicated to literature, Deichman Bjørvika’s many floors house much more than books. There are, of course, reading and study areas, but there’s also an entire floor dedicated to children, as well as a café, a restaurant on the first floor, a cinema, and an auditorium in the basement.
Photo: Erik Thallaug / Deichman Bjorvika
Even better, Deichman Bjørvikat is equipped with everything creatives may need: 3D printers, sewing machines, and music and sound studios. There’s also a self-service set-up to check out materials, and the library is equipped with a revolutionary automatic book-sorting system.
Photo: Maria Bagtas / Deichman Bjorvika
Deichman Bjørvika is a free cultural hub and a gathering space for all. Public libraries are some of the few spaces where one can enter and stay all day without the expectation to purchase anything. A library as modern and beautiful as Deichman Bjørvika is a gift to all community members. 