Dokk1 is Aarhus’ main library. The building also houses Citizens’ Services, City Archive, a hub for welfare technology. The building opened in 2015, realized by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects.

Size
30.000 m²
Library size
18.000 m²
Visitors per year
1.2 mio
Events and activities per month
140
Carried out by or with partners
60%

Sustainability at DOKK1

In all phases of the development of Dokk1 there has been an emphasis on sustainability – environmental, social and financial.

Energy consumption:
The building meets the Danish class 2015 low energy requirements:

  • Thermal loss has been reduced because the compact form of the building envelope offers a relatively small surface area.
  • Natural shadow effects are achieved by the size of the floors and their relative positions.
  • During winter months, the sunrays will strike the facades of the building; During summer months, when the sun angles are high, the lower floors will be shaded by the roof plate.
  • There are sunscreens on the skylight windows and solar shades on all other glass facades. When there is too much sunlight, motorised solar shades are activated to reduce the influx of light.


Solar panel array:

  • A 2,432 m² solar panel array has been set up on the roof of the building. A glint and glare assessment has been made to measure possible effects on the surrounding neighbourhood.


Seawater cooling:

  • Seawater is used to cool the building – both for ceiling cooling panels and for ventilation – thus considerably reducing energy consumption for cooling purposes.


Lighting:

  • Both inside and outside, the emphasis has been on reducing energy consumption as much as possible, including the use of LED lamps.
  • The use of motion and daylight sensors reduces energy consumption when the influx of daylight increases.
  • Lights are automatically turned off when areas have not been in use for a determined period of time.


Automated underground parking facility:

  • Lights are only on when people are working there, minimising energy consumption for lighting.
  • The underground parking facility is heated by reusing air vented from the building above.
  • Less fuel is used when moving vehicles in and out of the facility.
  • Only a little ventilation is needed underground as there are no vehicles driving around down there.
  • Vehicles are much less exposed to vandalism and owners feel more secure (social sustainability).

Accessibility at DOKK1

At every phase of the development of Dokk1, accessibility has been given high priority. This applies to physical accessibility, interior design, furnishings and fittings, and not least to the use of new technology. Special attention has been paid to allergy sufferers, wheelchair users, people with prams and strollers and people who have visual, hearing, mobility, or other functional impairments. In the planning of Dokk1, the underground parking and the waterfront spaces, attention has been paid to details such as: accessible routes, means of access, wayfinding, pedestrian movement, safety, functional aids, resting places, plants and lighting.

Elevators and doors:

  • Three extra wide elevators at the entrance suited to wheelchair users.
  • Two external elevators from Level 0 to Level 1.
  • Four evacuation elevators reserved for wheelchair users and mobility impaired people.
  • Escalator from Level 0 to Level 1.
  • The revolving entrance door is flanked by conventional doors with automatic openers.
  • Selected internal doors are fitted with automatic openers.
  • Vertical handles on many doors make them easy to open for people of all sizes.


Toilets:

  • Four handicap toilets on Levels 1 and 2, one of them with a person lift.
  • On each Level, one of the handicap toilets is an automatic shower toilet with built-in wash and dry.


Getting around in the building:

  • Accessible routes within the building are at least 180 cm wide. These routes will always be kept free of furnishings, so that blind or sight impaired people will find it easier to become familiar with the building.
  • The media ramp has both stairs and inclines, providing a visible progression all the way up from Level 1 to Level 2. The stairs have user-friendly handrails at two heights.
  • A small ramp on Level 2 provides wheeled access to the different floor levels in the area.
  • The library shelves are at least 150

Opening hours

Monday–Friday: 8:00–22:00
Saturday–Sunday: 10:00–16:00

The building is open without staff on weekdays
between 8:00–10:00 and 19:00–22:00.

DOKK1

Marie Oestergaard

Library Director of 
Aarhus Public Libraries

mao@aarhus.dk +45 51 57 64 63

Founding Partners