Innovative door systems for the listed National Library in Stockholm
Modern requirements for accessibility, fire protection and burglar resistance in listed buildings are a challenge for all door system suppliers – especially as the functional systems must be in place but should be as invisible as possible. GEZE offers impressive solutions for the special challenges in listed buildings: the National Library in the Swedish capital Stockholm is one example of this, where customised GEZE door systems for access convenience ensure easy access for all and blend harmoniously into the architecture of the cultural monument thanks to customised adaptations.
Provision of special solutions for doors with very restrictive requirements
The reading room is not only a functional space for teaching and learning, but also an impressive architectural element of the library, offering all visitors a calm and inspiring environment thanks to accessible automatic doors. © PMAGI AB Foto & Film
During the extensive modernisation of some public areas of the National Library in Stockholm, GEZE supplied, among other things, two customised special solutions for doors with very special requirements:
- A Slimdrive SL linear sliding door drive seamlessly integrated into the door frame, hand-painted to perfectly match the interior design.
- A curved automatic all-glass door to the storage room for the library's most secret and best-kept treasures.
Modernised and accessible entrance with a historic look
A curved automatic door leads to the storage room, where the library's most secret and best-kept treasures are stored, protected against outside influences. © PMAGI AB Foto & Film
Before the modernisation, the impressive reading room of the Stockholm library had two revolving doors that were accessible from the large entrance hall. One of the revolving doors has now been replaced by a sensor-controlled, handicapped accessible automatic door construction made of aluminium, which has the same dimensions and appearance as the historic door from the 1870s.
As a special feature, the imitation wood on the aluminium parts is hand-painted so that the modern and now accessible entrance retains its historic look. The same is true of the Slimdrive SL integrated automatic door drive which, with its low height of just 7 cm, could be integrated seamlessly and practically invisibly into the door frame, which was then hand-painted. This allowed the technical requirements for the accessible automatic door to be elegantly combined with the special challenges of the listed architecture.
Well secured: a curved, sensor-controlled automatic door protects the "treasure chamber" from the outside climate
The semi-circular sliding doors are designed to blend seamlessly into the classic architecture of the library and, thanks to the Slimdrive SC curved sliding door system and sensor control, also offer modern functionality and access for all. © PMAGI AB Foto & Film
The second part of the delivered door systems included a glass sliding door, also sensor-controlled, which protects the new "treasure chamber", where the library's most valuable books are displayed, against external climatic influences. The entrance wall to the library's treasure chamber is semi-circular, so the all-glass door also had to be semi-circular. With the Slimdrive SC, GEZE supplied the right all-glass solution for this very special door: with its low overall height of just 7 cm and a sophisticated design line, the sliding door system blends elegantly into the semi-circular all-glass front of the library's treasure chamber. In addition, the Slimdrive SC curved sliding door system enables a 40 % greater opening width than linear sliding door drives.
Learn more about the Slimdrive SC curved sliding door system
It was an honour to integrate our products into such a historic building as the National Library. We pride ourselves on delivering customised solutions that both blend in with the architecture of the listed building and optimise modern functionality and accessibility.
Magnus Gupefjäll, Product Manager at GEZE Scandinavia
