The architectural competition for the helsinki central library, held in 2012, received 544 entries from around the world. You can easily reach us from anywhere in the helsinki metropolitan area using public transport. Dec 28, 2012 in the central core, acting as the tree trunk, the library collections are located in a flexible and open space layout that makes use of contemporary technological devices. Helsinki central library oodi is an inspiring and highly functional addition to helsinki s urban life. To find out more about the impressive building and what it takes to design the library of the future, weve had a chat with annamaria soininvaara, director of the new oodi central library.
For years, many tourists have required a new type of travel expe rience, one in which they are more physically and emotionally in volved in the destination, rather than just being entertained. Oodi is situated on citizens square, which seamlessly transitions to the entrance canopy and into the building. It will offer a technically and spatially flexible framework for cuttingedge, adaptable library operations, and act as the. At the regional libraries there are 3 net squares, where you can find computer classes and get professional help. Project the helsinki central library international design competition required that arthur golding and associates aga submit a conceptual design to fit a narrow, rectangular site amid monumental civic buildings and incorporate advanced technology in timeless architecture, resulting in a symbolic city building. The library governing will stay in the main library. The building opens directly to the surrounding cityscape, and the architecture feeds curiosity that draws people inside.
The changing role of the library can be anchored by this quality. Helsinki central library is made up of a combination of a rare steelframed bridge and building. The library looks like the extreme extension of the. Abstract the helsinki central library is a landmark project, delivered as part of the finland 100 programme to celebrate 100 years of the.
While other european countries are closing down their libraries, helsinki is currently building a massive new one, the helsinki central library, in the center of the. Ala architects oodi central library opens in helsinki. Helsinki central library oodi chosen as the best new public library in the world download file. People can come to the central library to concentrate, learn, meet, share and work. The helsinki central library oodi commonly referred to as oodi lit. Helsinki central library, labics beta architecture. Ala architects delivered the winning entry to the architectural competition held in 20. This paper looks at helsinkis new city library, the helsinki central library oodi, which was launched by the finnish ministry of. Specially for this reason, we envision this proposal to be a. The services of city libraries can be used during the library opening hours.
It will provide its users with knowledge, new skills and stories, and will be. Oodi is a venue for events, a house of reading and a diverse urban experience. Profile ala ala architecture firm based in helsinki. Consequently it needs to be thought as a functionally versatile meeting place, a store of education in which the users are the focus and the building itself the symbol of attraction and connectivity. An ode to joy inside oodi, helsinkis new flagship library.
The project of the central library of helsinki is located in the heart of helsinki city, exactly in the toolonlahti bay, near many important buildings like finlandia hall and museum of contemporary art kiasma. Helsinki central library oodi by ali cafe hao yeah. Useful information and interesting facts about finnish libraries can now be found even easier than before, gathered under themes that are the building blocks of finnish public libraries. Central library oodi is located in helsinki city centre at kansalaistori square, opposite parliament house, in the immediate vicinity of the railway station. Helsinki central library competition mark paz archinect. The steel arcs arrived at the site and were installed in february and march. Oodi is helsinki s new central library and a living meeting place in the city centre on the kansalaistori square. Because of the arcs in the frame, a certain clearance has been taken into account in the structure and it will remain in the complete structure. It offers unobstructed, majestic views to the surrounding park and cityscape. Ala architects have just won the design competition for the new helsinki central library with their entry. Oodi is a new age library that offers opportunities for meetings. With its six floor levels each pointing toward a celebrated landmark, the central library becomes a symbolic center for city. According to ifla public libraries section blog 2019 oodi was.
Helsinki central library oodi and art museum amos rexs. It will be easy to come to the central library, as a beloved house of education, to concentrate, learn and work. The central concept was two solid egg shaped forms housed within a glass envelope. Central library oodi and oodi guides are abiding by the guidelines given by the city of helsinki as well as government agencies to reconsider hosting smallscale events in order to help prevent the spread of the corona virus. The helsinki central library is a landmark project, delivered for the client, city of helsinki, as part of the suomi 100 programme to celebrate 100 years of the independence of finland. In the central core, acting as the tree trunk, the library collections are located in a flexible and open space layout that makes use of contemporary technological devices. The helsinki university main library represents stateoftheart library architecture. Jun 10, 2010 oodi helsinki central library duration. Helsinki central library competition entry ooda archdaily. Oodi occupies a hugely significant site in central helsinki. Tampere city library consists of the main library metso, 4 regional libraries, 10 branch libraries and 2 mobile libraries. That is why the central library, to be completed in the end of 2018, will have among other things a movie theatre, music studio, restaurant, open workspaces, and a citizen balcony not to forget the traditional library space of course.
Visits to libraries in the helsinki metropolitan area and elsewhere in finland, to the stockholm main library and. Update 26102019 updated the asset to a library asset. Described as the nations birthday gift to its citizens, the 17,250 sq m library has been designed by finnish. Helsinki library international competition situated in one helsinkis most prominent sites, next to cultural, political, and architectural icons, the central library building becomes a centre piece in an area of growing activity. Headai signed an innovation partnership with helsinki central library oodi in.
Jul 09, 2018 university of helsinki city campus library, building, finnish project, design, image. People from pretty much all walks of life can be found in a library. Opening of central library oodi attracts some 55,000 visitors download file. The national library of finland is the oldest and largest scholarly library in finland. The library looks like the extreme extension of the park, located on the edge between land and water. We noticed that the toolonlahti area is a special place in helsinki, probably in the whole finland too. Helsinki central library oodi finnish architecture navigator. Croatian based radionica arhitekture practice shares with us their contemporary solution for the helsinki central library competition entry from the architects. Oodi is helsinki s new central library and a living meeting place. Helsingin keskustakirjasto helsingfors centrumbibliotek ode helsinki central library. It was led by a consult outside of library world mikko leisti.
The proposal for the helsinki central library by ooda tries to merge the most efficient program articulation with a strong concept which intends to suggest the overall theme integrated with. All guided tours of oodi are temporarily discontinued. The central library oodi has gained great popularity, and in just four months since its opening it has already welcomed more than one million visitors. In december 2018, oodi opens its doors in the toolonlahti. Alas most recent completed projects are the new courtyard by marriott tampere city hotel, the helsinki central library oodi, the renovation of the finnish embassy in new delhi, aalto university and keilaniemi metro stations in espoo, finland, and the renovation of the dipoli student union building in espoo and its repurposing as the main. Helsinki central library, helsinki design build network. This is a calm and contemplative area floating above the busy central helsinki. The library is organized by six intersecting axes that afford spectacular vistas while creating a variety of spatial configurations for the library s program. The new central library in the heart of helsinki will consist almost entirely of public spaces and will offer a wide selection of services. Helsinki university library includes the main library in the kaisa house, kumpula, meilahti and viikki campus libraries, as well as internal library services. We understand the importance of this parks squares emptiness in the heart of the city and we think it is equally or.
Many users want to discover content across genre boundaries but at the same time stick to interesting themes. Its astonishing how much people love the library, says virve miettinen, participation planner at helsinki city library people from pretty much all walks of life can be found in a library. How i changed by living in finland life in finland duration. The site for the new helsinki central library lies at at the junction between nature and commercial development, and this particular scheme aims to establish a lively and sustainable connection from the city to the park while reestablishing the library as a critical public node. Helsinki university library is an independent institute of the university of helsinki and open to all information seekers. Helsinki central library competition entry stl architects.
Helsingin keskustakirjasto helsingfors centrumbibliotek. The building will be a highly functional addition to the local urban life. Helsinki central library oodi opens in a year yitgroup. Oodi helsinki central library ala architects archdaily. A dream come true of citizens the new helsinki central library. Nowadays, almost in every library there is a selfservice system for borrowing and lending. Jun 14, 20 ala architects wins the helsinki central library design competition and has designed a library with a mass of twisted timber. Pdf perceived outcomes of public libraries in finland, norway and. The mep design was undertaken by rejlers finland while normek carried out the steel fabrication and installation works. Watch here the animated story of central library produced by rinki.
It will function as a living room for residents, located right at the heart of helsinki. Oodi is a new age library that offers opportunities for meetings, adventure and relaxation. Helsinki city library has 37 libraries, four institutional libraries, five service points in the service centre of helsinki and two mobile libraries. A flexible and adaptable space that will over time accommodate the different activities that the modern library user needs. Virtual information assistants on mobile app to serve. Five storeys tall, it provides premises to work and organize events, reading havens, studios, urban workshops, a familyoriented library, cafeteria, restaurant and cinema. Dec 19, 2017 the new central library in the heart of helsinki will consist almost entirely of public spaces and will offer a wide selection of services. Helsingfors centrumbibliotek ode, commonly referred to as oodi lit. The new central library of helsinki called oodi ode is a library for modern times, open to all, a noncommercial public space in the pulsing heart of the capital city.
That is why the central library, to be completed in the end of 2018, will have among other things a movie theatre, music studio, restaurant, open workspaces, and a citizen balcony not to. Project the helsinki central library international design competition required that arthur golding and associates aga submit a conceptual design to fit a narrow, rectangular site amid monumental civic buildings and incorporate advanced technology in timeless architecture, resulting in a. By creating a topography of learning and doing, the helsinki central library will become an active cultural building and a natural meeting place. The oodi library is one concretization of the new library concept. Library classification rigorously guides the search for information but doesnt serve all user profiles too well. What a discussion about libraries by the politicians in the helsinki city council. Oodi a new central library for helsinki will open on the fifth of december 2018, a day before finland marks its 101st anniversary as an independent country. Oodi is the citizens own house where culture and knowledge can be. The kaisa house is located in kaisaniemi and it represents stateoftheart library architecture. All matters concerning the use of city library services such as information about the library card, fees and regulations can be found on the helmet. Visitors to oodi meaning ode, helsinki s new central library, will find few books on its shelves.
The heart of the metropolis the heart of helsinki competitionline. The traditional, serene library atmosphere can be found on the top floor. The central library offers a public space open to all in the heart of the city. Helsinki central library winning proposal ala architects. Oodi opens in helsinki, marking a new era of libraries in. Competition submission for the helsinki central library. Helsinki, a city committed to finding the evolving nature of culture in an ever changing society, is the inspiration behind stl architects proposal for the new library. The concept of the new helsinki central library oodi. Arthur golding and associates helsinki central library. Helsinki central library oodi is an inspiring and highly functional addition to helsinkis urban life.
Oodi library helsinki, finland black and white street photography. Library concepts to competition winners homepage liber. The proposal represents the consolidation of cultural identity, democratic notion and humanistic concepts into a building. From the central core, the circulation and distribution areas develop as branches leading to the library functions and interaction spaces. Designed by ala architects in helsinki,finland with date 20. University of helsinki city campus library by aoa earchitect. The new helsinki central library oodi has been in the news over the past few weeks due to its impressive design and structure. As the biggest university library in finland, it serves the academic community as a modern learning and research centre and offers a meeting place for all citizens alike. Helsinki university library has four campus libraries. From the central core, the circulation and distribution areas develop as branches leading to the library. Apr 07, 2018 the new millennium requires a new library the central library.
The library is organized by six intersecting axes that afford spectacular vistas while creating a variety of spatial configurations for the librarys program. Jun 14, 2012 helsinki central library as a gateway to the city 1. The archsupported building not only serves an architectural purpose, but also serves other practical purposes, such as allowing a future tunnel to be built just below the. Pdf helsinki central library as a gateway to the city. It is responsible for the collection, description, preservation and accessibility of finlands printed national heritage and the unique collections under its care. These two contrasting spaces that perfectly complement each other are created by an arching wooden volume. Helsinki university library all you need to know before you. Library concepts to competition winners liber lag 2014 session 2 helsinki central library project pirjo lipasti chief planner helsinki city library 7. A dream come true of citizens the new helsinki central.
Ala architects has completed oodi, helsinki s new central library which is set to open on 5 december 2018, a day before finland marks its 101st anniversary as an independent country. Ode, is a public library in helsinki, finland, inaugurated on december 5, 2018. Oodi opens in helsinki, marking a new era of libraries in the worlds most. Jun 18, 20 designed by ala architects in helsinki,finland with date 20. Public libraries are important in finland high appreciation to reading and knowlegde public library movement in the 19th century was an. Client city of helsinki helsinki enetusivu ad agency. Helsinki central library as a gateway to the city for years, many tourists have required a new type of travel expe rience, one in which they are more physically and emotionally in volved in the destination, rather than just being entertained. May 07, 20 croatian based radionica arhitekture practice shares with us their contemporary solution for the helsinki central library competition entry from the architects. Helsinki central library proposal by mdu architetti. Oodi offers a public space open to all in the heart of the city. The learning landscape will create a landscape that weaves the activity of the city and the life of the park into meaningful spaces.