The university building that reinterprets the library in a multi-functional design is laid out as an approximately 3.000 m2 ’spiral of knowledge’ that naturally integrates into the surrounding landscape at the Dalarna University Campus in Falun, Sweden.

Together with an international team ADEPT has designed the library and the surrounding urban spaces as a dynamic meeting place with activities for students, staff and visitors to the Dalarna University.

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 multi-media 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 refined 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.

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 fl ows at the same time as it optimizes the public spaces around the building into defi ned activity zones and intimite recreational areas. The library functions are pushed onto the new plaza marking the new main entrance with life and activities. Dalarna Media Library will come to attract the community of Falun acting as a motivating generator for both citizens and local businesses.

”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.