5 Reasons to Visit Oslo’s Deichman Library
Discover Oslo’s striking Deichman Bjørvika Main Library, a contemporary architectural landmark beside the Opera House. From family-friendly spaces and creative workshops to the Future Library art project, here are five reasons to visit on your next trip to Oslo.
You may be familiar with Oslo’s futuristic Opera House, nestled at the edge of the fjord where its white marble slopes gently towards the water. Over the past 20 years, extensive building and redevelopment have transformed Oslo’s inner fjord and harbour precinct into a showcase of Nordic architecture and design.
The Deichman Bjørvika Main Library is one of the standout additions to this waterfront neighbourhood. Located next to the Opera House and close to the MUNCH Museum, the library was designed to be inclusive, welcoming and engaging for everyone, from local residents to visitors.
If you're interested in architecture, design, culture or simply finding somewhere interesting to spend an hour or two, it's well worth adding to your Oslo itinerary.
5 reasons to visit Deichman Bjørvika next time you're in Oslo
1. It's family-friendly and has something for everyone
Whether you are interested in architecture and design or prefer magazines, podcasts and newspapers, there is plenty to explore at Deichman Bjørvika.
Travelling with children or teenagers? Younger visitors can discover cosy reading nooks and a large collection of picture books, while older children and teenagers have access to comics, screens and games. The library is designed to encourage people to explore, sit down and stay for a while.
Image credit: Erik Thallaug
2. Stop for a meal or coffee
You can easily combine a visit to the library with a coffee, snack or meal at Centropa Café & Restaurant on the ground floor.
The menu draws inspiration from across Europe, with dishes named after their countries of origin. You might find chicken terrine and sauerkraut from Poland, duck leg confit with beetroot, cherries and endive from Georgia, or Norwegian pickled herring with potato cake, leek, onion and sour cream.
The dishes are designed to be shared, making it easy to try a few different flavours during your visit.
3. Discover the Future Library
One of the library's most intriguing features is Future Library, the long-term art project by Scottish artist Katie Paterson.
The project began in 2014, when the first author contributed an unpublished text that will remain unread until 2114. Each year, another author contributes a new work, with 100 texts eventually forming an anthology for future generations.
The manuscripts are kept securely until their publication, while the authors and titles are recorded in the library's Silent Room.
The project extends beyond the library itself. A forest of 1,000 trees was planted in Oslo's Nordmarka in 2014, with the intention that the trees will eventually provide the paper for the printed anthology.
The Silent Room is lined with timber from the same region and looks towards the hills where the forest is growing. It is a fascinating place to pause and consider a project that will continue long after any of us have left the library.
Image: Jo Straube
4. Get creative
If you think a library is all about books, Deichman Bjørvika might surprise you.
The library has spaces dedicated to music, films, comics and storytelling, alongside workshops and studios where visitors can experiment with technology and creative projects. Depending on the facilities available, you can find tools such as 3D and large-format printers, sewing machines and equipment for producing podcasts.
There are also instruments, DJ equipment, recording spaces and collections of CDs and LPs. The basement has an in-house cinema, including a smaller cinema that can be booked for private screenings.
It's a good example of how libraries have evolved into places not just for reading, but for making, learning and spending time together.
5. It's free
Perhaps the best reason of all: visiting the library is free.
Take some time to appreciate the architecture, browse the collections, explore the Future Library project, enjoy the views towards the Oslofjord or simply find a comfortable chair and rest your feet.
It's also ideally located for combining with some of Oslo's other attractions. Walk across to the Oslo Opera House, visit the MUNCH Museum or continue along the waterfront through Bjørvika.
Image: Erik Thallaug