drdharchitects wins library and concert hall competition in norway

a new library and concert hall in bodø, norway designed by drdharchitects image courtesy drdharchitects

london- based drdharchitects has won first place in the international competition to design a new library and concert hall in bodø, norway. the bodø kulturhus and library will consist of two public buildings; a new city library (5,500m²) and a three-auditorium concert hall (7,350m²), creating a new cultural centre for the norwegian coastal city.

the results of the competition were announced in bodø, norway on 27 february. drdharchitects beat five other practices to win the invited competition, including CF moller, medplan, general architecture, langdon reis zahn and lundgaard & tranberg.

night view of the library and concert hall image courtesy drdharchitects

facade model of of a new library and concert hall in bodø image courtesy drdharchitectsthe buildings have a figurative quality; two distinct but related characters, engaged in conversation with each other, and with their urban and harbour contexts. together they form the new cultural heart of the city of bodø.

massing model of a new library and concert hall in bodø image courtesy drdharchitects

interior of the library image courtesy drdharchitects

the interior public spaces of the kulturhus are planned to take advantage of expansive views across the harbour. from the principal foyer space of the kulturhus, the shaped roof of the bibliotek can be seen, forming a horizon to the sea and the mountains beyond. arriving by boat, the buildings present themselves almost as a single piece; a ‘hill’ of gabled forms, perspectively receding like a theatre set; glittering on a sunny day.