BAHR law firm, Norway

From hidden book collection to vibrant oasis

Through thoughtful design and custom-made shelving, Norwegian law firm BAHR has transformed its hidden book collection into a vibrant oasis at the heart of the company.

The physical library is still very much alive in law firms, and at BAHR it has been elevated as a central part of everyday working life. In close collaboration with the architectural firm IARK, the books have been moved out of storage rooms and into the open atrium of the impressive Renzo Piano building at Tjuvholmen in Oslo.

By placing the collection in a shared space, the library is visible from every floor and serves as a striking focal point, creating an inspiring setting for the firm's knowledge base.

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Flexible design for a multifunctional space

Several times a year, the atrium is used for events with up to 300 participants. Hidden wheel frames on the shelving units (a standard feature of the Lingo shelving range) provide flexibility and allow the furniture to be easily rearranged when needed. In everyday use, the plinths conceal the wheels, giving the entire library a solid and permanent appearance.

Because the shelving units are double-sided and only 105 cm high, the atrium space is used as efficiently as possible while maintaining an open and airy atmosphere. This leaves room for natural light and softer elements such as rugs and lounge chairs.

The physical library remains essential

Although lawyers can access most materials through Lovdata, and reference collections are increasingly being replaced by digital libraries, many legal professionals still rely on physical books.

Publishers have yet to provide sufficiently effective solutions for sharing digital professional literature, which means employees use the library every day to borrow books, find excerpts, and make copies for reports and court cases.

Since the library needed to reflect the BAHR building's identity as an open and transparent workplace, the height of the shelving units was carefully considered. Today, employees are very pleased with the result and highlight several advantages:

No warehouse feeling - the space is bright, open, and airy
Natural zoning – the low shelving units act as natural room dividers, creating areas for reading and focused work without making people feel enclosed
A good compromise – the reduced shelf height means that some larger volumes must be stored horizontally rather than upright, but the aesthetic benefits more than compensate for this minor inconvenience

The existing tall shelving units in solid oak were not discarded. Instead, they were repurposed and integrated into the overall design. Positioned towards the side of the space, they avoid occupying valuable floor area in the atrium and the new shelving has been produced in matching oak veneer to create a cohesive and refined appearance.

Small details that made a big difference

To ensure the project met the law firm's needs, the following considerations proved particularly important:

Space on the shelves – the shelves were intentionally not filled to capacity, leaving room for new volumes and future reorganisation
Placement – capacity requirements and shelf metres had to balance perfectly, which required careful planning of both the library layout and shelving design
User-friendly system – books can easily be searched for and borrowed, as all employees are registered in the system and books can be scanned quickly
The social aspect – the library includes comfortable seating areas where employees can take a break, settle in with reading material, and enjoy a cup of coffee

Previously, BAHR had only one dedicated librarian. Today, responsibility is shared across the project group, ensuring that the library always remains tidy and representative of the firm. It is a task they view positively:

"Tidying the library is actually a welcome break from other busy tasks, and it also ensures that books are returned to the correct place."– Employees at BAHR Law Firm

From every angle and every floor, BAHR's new corporate library stands out as an integral part of the interior design. Careful consideration has been given to both the building's architectural identity and the law firm's specific wishes and requirements.

The result is a vibrant, flexible, and visually striking oasis that inspires both focused legal research and informal social breaks in welcoming surroundings.

It is a strong example of how library furniture is not only used for storing knowledge and information but can also play a central role in interior design, creating a dynamic focal point.