ALA’s Helsinki Central Library has been approved by The Helsinki City Council;the project was the winner of architectural competition held in 2013 and it will proceed.

'Käännös' grows from the dynamic between the site and the goals of the library program. The interplay between the building’s three individual floors is the key concept of the entry.

view from west

The public plaza in front of the building will continue inside, merging with a catalogue of meeting and experience features. The ground floor will be a robust, busy and frequently updated space suitable for quick visits and walkthroughs. The active, zero-threshold public spaces will be visible, attractive, understandable and welcoming to all visitors.

surroundings

The traditional, serene library atmosphere can be found on the top floor. This will be a calm and contemplative area floating above the busy central Helsinki. It will offer unobstructed, majestic views to the surrounding park and cityscape.

view from north

These two contrasting spaces that perfectly complement each other are created by an arching wooden volume. The spaces inside the volume will be enclosed and more intimate. The wooden volume is stretched vertically to create connections to the open main floors below and above.

view from south

ground floor-lobby

ground floor-lobby

ground floor-lobby

ground floor-multipurpose hall

ground floor-cinema

middle floor

middle floor-living lab

middle floor-studios

middle floor-sauna

top floor

top floor-cafe

top floor-children's library

top floor-oasis

top floor-balcony

city structure

site plan

west elevation

east elevation

north-south elevations

ground floor

middle floor

top floor

longitudinal section

sections

functions

top floor

middle floor

ground floor

structure

photography by Jussi Tiainen

photography by Jussi Tiainen

All images © ALA Architects ltd

Project Facts

Name:Helsinki Central Library

Type:Open competition, 2013, 1st prize

Status:In progress

Program:16,000 m2

Location:Helsinki, Finland

Client:City of Helsinki

Team:Juho Grönholm, Antti Nousjoki, Janne Teräsvirta and Samuli Woolston with Niklas Mahlberg, Aleksi Niemeläinen, Anna Nyyssönen, Pauliina Rossi, Pekka Sivula, Tom Stevens, Tuulikki Tanska, Nea Tuominen, Jussi Vuori and Erica Österlund

Collaborators: Pöyry CM (project manager), Ramboll Finland/UK/Denmark (structural engineering), Finnmap Infra & Sipti Infra (geo planning), Projectus Team (HVAC), Insinööritoimisto Lausamo (electrical engineering), Insinööritoimisto Markku Kauriala (fire safety), Gravicon (BIM coordination), VIZarch (renderings), Arup (energy technical specialist, mechanical engineering, structural engineering and facade engineering in competition phase), Klaus Stolt (scale models)

> via ALA Architects