Asnæs Library
An invited competition for a new branch library in Asnæs, Denmark, servicing a town of 25,000 inhabitants, located 150kms south west of Copenhagen.
Design Response
The modern library is a place not only for books, but for events, activities, internet access and a social place for children and adults. It is a meeting place and cultural center of a city. The new library demanded a contemporary design to suit the needs of the growing city.
Placed at the northern part of the site, the library makes space for a public gathering place around the park. The building itself is constructed out of local brick and concrete and is designed to new codes of sustainability initiated by the Danish Government. This required reducing energy consumption by half of that of other libraries in the country.
Passive and active systems were used throughout the project including computer driven ventilation systems, naturally ventilated cavity brick construction, strategic orientation for solar and air flow, and the use of locally produced materials which avoided large transportation costs. The library was featured in the Concrete Australia Magazine December issue 2007.
Sustainability Features
- passive solar design
- water saving devices
- thermal mass
- computer controlled natural ventilation
- high levels of insulation
- double glazing
- local materials, highly durable
- no cfcs or hcfcs
- led lighting
- wind energy assisted ventilation
Status: Completed, 2007
Location: Asnæs, Denmark
Architect: Matt Day with Fogh & Følner Arkitektfirma A/S
Client: Dragsholm Kommune
Engineer: Dausgaard & Nyboe A/S