One of the most interesting conditions of public space is its potential to generate unexpected encounters. The goal of the Central Library project is to offer Helsinki citizens the potential of a wide range of encounters: while searching for a specific book, readers will also discover other books and meet other people. As they move inside the building, library users will discover new views of the surrounding cityscape: the park, bay and the city architecture will be seen from new angles and heights. The library will encourage its users’ encounters with culture, society and the city, generating at all times expectation and surprise.
aerial view
© Dieguez Fridman arquitectos & asociados . Published on July 19, 2013.
The architectural concept is an atrium that changes its form and defines different relations with the buildings and the park that surround the site.
© Dieguez Fridman arquitectos & asociados . Published on July 19, 2013.
At the South end of the site the atrium is a traditional vertical space defined by two building masses: the collections on one side and the learning and doing spaces on the other. The volume facing the park is raised one floor to generate a wide entry loggia that can be seen from Mannerheimintie road. This loggia faces the Finnish Parliament across the park and acts as a counterpoint to its monumental podium and stairs, both at a formal and a symbolic level. It expresses the library’s open and inviting character, transforming the building hall into an extension of the park.
park views
© Dieguez Fridman arquitectos & asociados . Published on July 19, 2013.
At the North end of the site, the atrium shifts to a wide, tall and open horizontal space that houses the main collections room. It is placed between the restaurant, café and exhibition areas that open to the park on the ground floor, and the children’s world on the top floor. This main collection room offers views of the park, the bay and the public buildings along Mannerheimintie road. There is a wide balcony for outdoor reading, working or relaxing in visual contact with the park, but separated from it.
terrace cafe
© Dieguez Fridman arquitectos & asociados . Published on July 19, 2013.
These two sections propose different relations with the park: the loggia and the formal entry on the city side, and the terraces and balconies on the park and bay side. These apparently conflicting conditions are connected by a twist in the atrium space that turns from vertical to horizontal and defines in this movement the main public circulations. A wide ramp runs along one of the turning atrium walls and leads from the entrance hall to the main collections room on the first floor.
main reading room access
© Dieguez Fridman arquitectos & asociados . Published on July 19, 2013.
reading room
© Dieguez Fridman arquitectos & asociados . Published on July 19, 2013.
sections
© Dieguez Fridman arquitectos & asociados . Published on July 19, 2013.