Figur 0 (Hvidovre gør gode tider bedre)

Museum-quality A1 Luster paper Giclée printing quality, 12 colors Paper weight: 250 g/m2 FSC Label

Figure 0: Hvidovre Main Library 

The library building in Hvidovre exemplifies how citizens shaped many public institutions in 1970s Denmark. It stands as a physical testament to the unique, grassroots-driven version of the welfare state that emerged during a time when personal expression and community engagement went hand in hand.

Between 1971 and 1972, the city's residents constructed their own library, drawing on the self-build traditions that had defined the municipality since the rise of the allotment garden movement in the 1930s. During this period, the emerging hip-hop culture's do-it-yourself ethos blended with the labour movement's traditions of collective organisation—a hallmark of Hvidovre since the establishment of the first workers' associations in the early 20th century. 

Citizens played an active role in shaping the city's facilities and public services. Through their collective efforts, they created not only buildings but also vibrant social spaces. Today, this spirit endures, as the library's spaces are continually reshaped and adapted by its users, much like the generations of Hvidovre residents who have persistently reimagined their surroundings in the city's self-built houses, allotment gardens, and other shared infrastructure.