MFA Friday Clip series presents videos of the latest biennial review projects. This week's theme: Helsinki Central Library Oodi by ALA Architects

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HELSINKI CENTRAL LIBRARY OODI Helsinki, Finland, 2018
ALA Architects

The contemporary Finnish library is a typology that the whole world admires and looks to Finland for – expanding the concept of the library far beyond books, into video games, tools and other forms of contemporary culture. Instead of a traditional library, the City of Helsinki wanted more space for extended library functions. In addition to computer labs, sewing machines and gaming rooms, Oodi includes a film auditorium, flexible event spaces and a gallery space.

ALA Architects has given a prominent and expressive shape to this important, democratic insti- tution. It is, first and foremost, the top floor that the jury regards as the great achievement of the building. Designed as an enormous living room for the city, the top floor resembles a large ship deck, which cleverly ascends at each end in order to make the space visible almost in its entire- ty. The organic skylights, the different zones or “quarters”, with a children’s playground, café, a variety of reading spaces, as well as a “selfie corner” for tourists and locals alike, add to the at- traction. The detailing of the top floor is impressive too, for instance, in the elegant meeting of various materials in the corners at the far ends, and they speak of a very successful and surpris- ingly literal transition from the winning competition entry in 2013 to a finished building in 2018.

On rather a limited budget for such an ambitious public building (98 million euros), demanding strict priorities as to where to invest the most, ALA has succeeded in the design of a symbol of the 21st century public sharing culture.

Text: Martin Braathen / Jury 2020

Video: Jonni Roos, Raimo Uunila
Camera: Raimo Uunila, Atte Henriksson
Editing: Raimo Uunila, Camilla Siren
Editor: Jonni Roos
Production: Uuden Avaaja, Grape Prodictions
Subtitles: Museum of Finnish Architecture
Translation: Translatinki Oy

The Finnish Architecture. Biennial Review 2020 exhibition is open until February 28, 2021 in Museum of Finnish Architecture, Helsinki.

In cooperation with Alvar Aalto Foundation and the Finnish Association of Architects, SAFA.