Copenhagen: Central Library

Unassuming from the outside but packs a punch from the inside this library does. Heading to Copenhagen, I had gotten plenty of food and drink recommendations from friends, but I have to say doing research I didn’t come across many buildings I wanted to visit which seemed counterintuitive. Copenhill, a relatively new construction was front center but I was coming up short on other interesting places that would be doable. It turns out that there’s so much good architecture in Copenhagen it probably makes it harder to call out the must sees- the whole city is littered with excellent modern and contemporary architecture.

I happened upon the Copenhagen Central Library via Democratic Coffee, a friend of mine’s favorite coffee spot in CPH. We needed somewhere for a bite after picking up bikes from BeCopenhagen. Again to this idea of just wandering, we had our coffee and ate our pastries and only because the bathroom was in the library connected to the cafe, did I discover – ever so randomly- this gem.

Analogous to the IT University of Copenhagen (an upcoming post) with its large central atrium (big theme here), I thought the Central Library was more hygge and better lit throughout the non atrium spaces. It also felt like people could enjoy the atrium from the seating arrangement – a key part for me if I were to frequent this place regularly.

A few details to note. First- buggy parking is really a classic Danish cultural marker- it feels like a squad just showed up. Second, the plants bring that hygge factor and some life into the shelf spaces. Third, there’s no riser on the stairs which helps immensely to bring light into the non atrium areas. Lastly, the large, highly legible graphic labeling also brings a friendliness to the space.

Back outside, I’m glad I decided to step back (literally almost walking backwards across the street) and figure out why in passing this building seemed to literally by camouflaged from the street. Turns out they preserved the exterior facade! What a treat. I hope this Central Library serves as the community resource I believe that it is.