Location: Helsinki, Finland.

Architect: ALA Architects.

Oodi, the new central library in Helsinki, is a non-commercial indoor public space that offers activities and experiences for all ages. It acts as a common living room, work space, and learning environment for Helsinki residents. The library is divided into three levels: an active ground floor, a peaceful top floor, and an enclosed in-between volume containing more specific functions. The design is a bridge-like structure that invites people to utilize the spaces and services underneath, inside, and on top of it. The wooden front facade dramatically arches over the ground floor level, creating a column-free lobby space suitable for all kinds of events. The middle floor consists of flexible rooms, nooks, and corners that accommodate group working areas, recording studios, editing rooms, and an urban lab. The top floor offers unobstructed panorama views of the city center through floor-to-ceiling windows and from the large public terrace on top of the canopy. The library has been built using local materials and with local climate conditions in mind. The wooden façade is made from pre-fabricated spruce elements, and the glass facades allow for large amounts of functional daylight in the public areas, reducing the need for artificial light and enhancing the quality of the interior spaces as a multifunctional citizen’s forum. The energy consumption level of the library is that of a nearly Zero Energy Building, mostly due to the efficiency of the building services. Building information modeling was used in both architectural and engineering design, as well as in checking the compatibility of the designs. BIM will also be utilized for maintenance.

Photo credit: Tuomas Uusheimo, Iwan Baan.