The Stockholm Public Library was designed by Gunnar Asplund. The design was proposed in 1922 and construction began in 1924. The project was one of Asplund’s most important works and was opened in 1928, with a few wings still under construction. This building illustrated the shift from classicism to functionalism. Asplund abandoned the dome that was present in his previous works for a rotunda on top of the building. He reduced parts of architecture to their most abstract geometrical forms to eliminate decor. This was Sweden’s first public library to have open shelving to allow visitors access to books without needing assistance from library staff.