The international competition, which started in May last year, attracted a lot of public attention. 6,000 architects applied for participation, and 1,160 submitted their projects. Despite the partial violation of the anonymity condition in March 2007, the competition ended well, besides the first prize, two third and three fourth places were awarded.
The main task for the architects was to create such a project for a new structure that would not disturb the existing ensemble of the tree-covered Observatory Hill and the old library building at its foot, built by Gunnar Asplund - a remarkable architectural monument of the 20th century.
The Khanada project, entitled "Delphinium", was liked by the jury for its openness and transparency, since it was the human orientation that was supposed to be the main distinguishing feature of the building. It is a rectangular block of milky white frosted glass, connected to the historic building by a one-story "podium" with a green roof, behind which is a small garden. The walls of both parts of the new structure are covered with a pattern of stylized delphinium flowers and leaves.
The facade of the intermediate building acts as an information board. There is also the main entrance and a lobby open to all, where you can drink coffee, read the newspaper or go directly to the Observatory park or Sveavegen street. Behind the "podium" there is a "secret garden" inscribed in a semicircular niche in the wall of the new building - a new public space where citizens can take a break from the bustle of Odengatan Street.
The multi-storey building contains reading rooms, storage rooms and other rooms connected by spacious corridors and curved staircases flooded with light. In the town-planning aspect, it plays the role of a "backdrop" for the construction of Asplund in the classical perspective from Odengatan Street.
