Timber iQ December 2019 - January 2020 // Issue: 47 | Page 25

INTERNATIONAL PROJECT
large foyer and the glass-walled multi-purpose hall on
ground level act as indoor extensions of the outdoor
spaces.
The arching wooden volume creates an entrance canopy
over the Kansalaistori square, forming a covered outdoor
space that expands the building’s functions such as the
ground level restaurant to the square. The large public
terrace on top of the canopy doubles the amount of public
outdoor space available for library visitors and creates a
new destination where people can meet and observe the
city below.
There will be three public entrances in the building: one in
the south for the main pedestrian flow from the direction
of the Central Railway Station, one next to the
Kansalaistori square to the west of the building shielded
by the overhanging canopy, as well as one for the visitors
to the family library and the movie theatre in the north-
eastern corner.
The spaces for maintenance and library logistics are
located at basement level. The administration and storage
spaces are kept to the minimum on the publicly accessed
levels to maximise the open and accessible nature of the
library. The administrative and storage functions of
Helsinki Public Library will remain at the main library in the
nearby Pasila district.
Library operations are statutory in Finland. Basic library
services are free of charge and freely available to
everyone. The new library will be at the forefront of the
A view from inside the top of the bridge during construction.
renewal of the city’s library services. In addition to the core
operations, there will be a wide range of services available
inside the building alongside an abundance of lounge
spaces and auxiliary services that support the operations
such as Helsinki Info – the City of Helsinki’s information
centre; Europa Experience – the centre for EU related
information; and Kino Regina – the National Audio-visual
Institute’s movie theatre. In terms of services offered, the
new library, a public space open seven days a week, will be
the largest public library in the Helsinki metropolitan area,
and will most certainly also become the metropolitan area’s
most popular spot for returns and reservations.
The bridge structure consisting of steel trusses and beams is supported by two massive steel arches.
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// DECEMBER 2019 / JANUARY 2020
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