The Black Diamond

In 1999, The Black Diamond became the latest addition to The Royal Library at Slotsholmen. It is intended to be a repository for our cultural heritage. The large building is 20,733 square metres in total, spread over eight floors. The facade of the Black Diamond takes up 2,500 square metres and is decorated with 'Absolute Black' granite, which originates from Zimbabwe and is both cut and polished in northern Italy.

There is a nice café on the ground floor, and the actual library function is just above the ground floor, on the 'lending bridge'. Despite the monolithic structure, which has been the subject of much debate, Copenhageners have grown accustomed to the black block, which has become more common over time among both the Renaissance buildings and the newer buildings along the canal.