The Royal Library has been jutting out of the waterfront since 1999, and its angular tinted glass facade has earned it the popular title, The Black Diamond.

Originally built as an extension to the old and cramped Royal Library, as well as serving as a vehicle for new building projects on the Copenhagen Harbor-front, the Black Diamond stands strong and commands Copenhagen’s waterside landscape. Its architecture is far superior to other buildings along the harbor, like the absurdly ugly Fisketorvet shopping-mall, located nearby.

While the Black Diamond offers optimal space for reading and studying, one of the library’s greatest assets is The National Photographic Museum housed within, boasting a vast collection of photographic works spanning from early experiments with the medium to contemporary video art. Søren K, the library’s excellent restaurant, is also responsible for making the library popular among architectural tourists and Copenhagen’s student population.

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