Stockholm Stadsbibliotek

My friend Harley Jacoubsen passed away in October 2004 after fighting for many years with a physically disabling condition called neurofibromatosis. He was an inspiration to me and many others. In his memory, The Jacoubsen, Residence for Independant Living was conceived and developed as my final thesis interior architecture project.

The Jacoubsen addresses the need for quality living amongst the physically disabled by offering accessible and secure, functional and modern apartment suites in the heart of Montreal. The residential building also responds to the alienation of city dwellers living in an urban environment by providing open gathering areas as well as quiet personal spaces. The project took many hours of hard work from conceptualization to final presentation in order to make the space work effectively, functionally and aesthetically. This is the outcome.

Plan view of main floor

View of central core Café/Lounge

The design of the internal public space on the main floor incorporates a multi-level eating/lounge area that overlooks down into the circular core of the café and universal bar. All areas are fully accessible by a ramp system spiraling up and around the central space or by stairs at one end.

Two years later, on May 25, 2007, I walked for 3 hours in Stockholm in search of the Stadsbibliotek (1928) or the "poor city library in Stockholm" designed by Gunnar Asplund. Here's an excellent analysis about the design of the building: From, Formation and Transformation . What I saw made my already rewarding project experience an even better one.

Plan View (Picture Source:palladio.arch.kth.se)

Some of the similarities are uncanny: not just the circular form of the core but also the positioning of the stairs. It's ironic since I only discovered the Stadsbibliotek after my project was already finished. This and many more concurrent coincidences started my passion and pursuit for Scandinavian architecture, culture and design.