This spread: Helsinki Central Library OODI, City of Helsinki The library currently under construction in the Töölönlahti area in central Helsinki will complement the dynamic of the open space bordered by an eclectic collection of buildings: Eliel Saarinen’s Central Railway Station, J. S. Sirén’s Finnish Parliament House, Alvar Aalto’s Finlandia Hall, SARC Architects’ Sanoma House, Steven Holl’s Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, and LPR Architects’ Helsinki Music Centre, among other buildings.
A LA A RC H IT E C T S
The public square in front of the library will continue inside the building both visually and mentally. The library will become a non-commercial public space open to all, offering the users the traditional library atmosphere but also workshop spaces, group working facilities, recording studios, a movie theatre, and a restaurant. These functions will be distributed over three floors, each of which will have its own individual character. The library is being built according to the strictest Finnish national criteria with regard to the selection of building materials,
energy consumption, and indoor air quality. Most of the wood used in the construction is sourced locally. The long opening hours and free entry will benefit all user groups, as will the location in the vicinity of various public transport routes. Location: Helsinki, Finland Building area: 18,000 m2 Type of construction: Steel frame Status: Under construction (1st prize in an international open competition held in 2012–2013; construction began in 2015, to be completed in by the end of 2018)
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