Thing 2: My visit to Stormen Library, Bodo, Norway.
What does a library inside the Arctic Circle look like ? In fact what does anything inside the Arctic Circle look like ? I travelled to the north of Norway to the Lofoten Islands last summer and although I
didn't quite know what to expect, I really didn't expect the landscape to be like the west of Ireland ! Of course it had fjords, crystal clear waters, seagulls and the midnight sun too, so it was different in many ways but the similarity of the landscape and the plants was really striking.
Bodo is a boat ride (as was everything) from where I was staying. Stormen Library opened in 2014, and was designed by the British firm DRDH Architects. It is an imposing building, with white columns interspersed by glass at the front, and is part of a complex incorporating a concert hall .
The library is very spacious, full of Scandinavian style furniture and relaxed reading spaces. The interior decoration is a mixture of pale wood on stairs and floor with white walls , the shelving is white with some red in the teenage area and the same colour scheme is used throughout to great effect, additional colour is added through the use of furniture furniture.
There is a large Teenage Area, full of bean bags and with a special area for gaming. The Children's Library is up the very imposing staircase and shoes are not allowed in the children's area. A very nice cloak room is provided for the storage of shoes and coats. The furniture is playful, with little house shaped kinder boxes and display units and a circular book and seating unit.
The shelving is sleek and fitted with under shelf lighting, very important in an area of the world where six months of the year is in darkness. The library is RFID enabled with separate self issue and return units.
It is a beautiful space, restful, calm and relaxed. A valuable addition to the cultural landscape of this Arctic town.
What does a library inside the Arctic Circle look like ? In fact what does anything inside the Arctic Circle look like ? I travelled to the north of Norway to the Lofoten Islands last summer and although I
Bodo is a boat ride (as was everything) from where I was staying. Stormen Library opened in 2014, and was designed by the British firm DRDH Architects. It is an imposing building, with white columns interspersed by glass at the front, and is part of a complex incorporating a concert hall .
The library is very spacious, full of Scandinavian style furniture and relaxed reading spaces. The interior decoration is a mixture of pale wood on stairs and floor with white walls , the shelving is white with some red in the teenage area and the same colour scheme is used throughout to great effect, additional colour is added through the use of furniture furniture.
There is a large Teenage Area, full of bean bags and with a special area for gaming. The Children's Library is up the very imposing staircase and shoes are not allowed in the children's area. A very nice cloak room is provided for the storage of shoes and coats. The furniture is playful, with little house shaped kinder boxes and display units and a circular book and seating unit.
The shelving is sleek and fitted with under shelf lighting, very important in an area of the world where six months of the year is in darkness. The library is RFID enabled with separate self issue and return units.
It is a beautiful space, restful, calm and relaxed. A valuable addition to the cultural landscape of this Arctic town.
Hi. Great to see you blogging! I'll be your moderator through the Rudai 23 course, so feel free to get in touch with questions and comments! Wayne
ReplyDeleteHi Wayne, nice to hear from you. I have been on holidays so am a little bit behind in my "Things ". its an interesting course though and I am enjoying it. Mary
DeleteWell, you can pace the course to suit yourself, so no need to feel under pressure. Wayne
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