Copenhagen University Library

In the first decades of the 17th century, Copenhagen experienced strong building activity under Christian IV, popularly referred to as the Builder King due to his many architectural projects.

Ultimately the idea emerged to build one grand complex which was to hold both an observatory, a church and new premises for the university library.

The new university library, located above the church and accessible only by the Round Tower's spiral ramp, was taken into use in 1652.

Up through the 17th century, the University Library grew significantly, both with the inclusion of the Royal Historiographers' archives and Peder Hansen Resen's book collection in 1685–87.

After the fire the library was restored along with the rest of the Trinitatis Complex and steps were taken to build a new collection.

Ironically, they landed in the library's section for morals and politics where they damaged a corner of Marsilius of Padua's Defensor pacis.

Its strong use of red brick heralded a new, distinctive trend in Danish architecture[2] which was to characterize many of the large cultural and civic buildings of the preceding decades.

The columns with their hive-like terminations as well as other features are inspired by the Church of San Fermo in Verona.

This was a requirement to prevent future fires and Herholdt was inspired by the Crystal Palace at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London which he had visited during a stay in England .

[2] Another source of inspiration was the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève in Paris which had been built 1843 to 1859 with a similar underlying structure.