Designed by ALA Architecture in Helsinki in 2018, Oodi Library stands out as a modern symbol with more than 100,000 books on 17,250 m². It offers a contemporary reading experience by combining architectural intelligence and technology.
Key Takeaways:
- Oodi Library was designed and built by ALA Architecture in Helsinki.
- Located on an area of 17,250 m², the library houses more than 100 thousand books.
- The building stands out with its modern architectural style and offers a contemporary reading experience by combining technology and lifelong learning concepts.
- The library symbolizes democracy, freedom of expression and active citizenship.
- ALA Architects described the library as a technology-oriented and innovative building.
- Oodi’s exterior and interiors are designed with users’ comfort and functionality in mind.
- The library uses digital technologies and artificial intelligence to facilitate book finding and borrowing.
- Oodi is designed not only as a book borrowing center, but also as a space that serves different purposes such as a café, restaurant, cinema and studio.
Let’s examine this gigantic design work together…Let’s examine this gigantic design work together…
The Importance of the Space of the Oodi Library
Located in the center of Helsinki, the €98 million Oodi Library is situated on Kansalaistori square, surrounded by the Finnish Parliament Building and other major civic institutions. Oodi’s location was chosen to be not only a library, but also a symbol of the relationship between government and the people, lifelong learning, active citizenship, democracy and freedom of expression.
Government and the People
The Oodi Library symbolizes the relationship between the government and the people, as it is located in an area surrounded by the Finnish Parliament Building and other state institutions. This location was chosen to encourage public participation in the democratic process. Oodi serves as part of the government’s efforts to promote access to information and give a voice to the people. The library is also recognized as a symbol of freedom of expression, a cornerstone of democracy.
Lifelong Learning and Active Citizenship
Oodi Library is strategically located to promote lifelong learning and active citizenship. By offering a wide collection, the library enables people to continuously acquire knowledge and develop themselves. It also encourages public participation by organizing various training programs, seminars and workshops. Oodi supports citizens to become more involved in the democratic process and contribute to the progress of society.
Freedom of Expression and Democracy
The Oodi Library is an important symbol of freedom of expression and democracy. The library emphasizes that everyone has the right to free expression of ideas and access to information. The area where Oodi is located is a square that encourages government and public interaction and provides a platform for democratic debate and dialogue. The library helps people explore different ideas, share their knowledge and help society reach a better understanding.
Oodi Library Innovations
While Helsinki’s main library, which already operates in the region, stands out in terms of the number of staff, the Oodi Library uses the advantages that technology brings to our daily lives to experimentally break the physical ties within the library and use the possibilities of technology to complete the process of finding and lending the desired book.The library, which houses nearly 3.4 million books digitally, uses robots and artificial intelligence to make the whole system work.
The library, one of the most important libraries in the country, was defined by ALA Architects as “a building that values the development of technology as well as book borrowing and can add innovation to the process of this development”.
The planned design incorporates the functions of the library on three different floors. There is an active ground floor, designed to draw in the movement of the street in front of it, and above this floor is the “book haven” and the enclosed voluminous rooms that house additional services and facilities within the library. This open spatial concept builds the library in fragments, centering a column-free ground floor and dozens of rooms located around the building.
Ground Floor An Open and Accessible Space
The ground floor of Oodi connects directly to Kansalaistori square and acts as a bridge between the square and the library. This floor offers an interior space open to everyone, giving the community the opportunity to gather and interact. It also makes the library’s different facilities visible and accessible. The ground floor includes various facilities such as a café, restaurant, event spaces and a public balcony.
Middle Floor Flexible and Multifunctional Rooms
The middle floor, called the “attic” of Oodi, is located between the trusses of the bridge ceiling structure. This floor consists of flexible rooms, designed to serve different purposes. These rooms are suitable for sound and silent activities and offer visitors an intimate environment. They can be used for various activities such as reading, studying, group activities or relaxing.
Book Paradise Much More
Contrary to its name, the section of Oodi called “Book Haven” is not just about books. This section is designed to offer a variety of facilities to library users. There are catering facilities such as cafes and restaurants, a public balcony, a cinema, audio-visual recording studios and a production space. In this way, the library becomes a space that can be used not only for renting books, but also for other purposes. Oodi’s design approach was shaped by ALA Architecture’s vision for the library to serve as a multifaceted community center.
“Book Heaven” is located under an undulating, cloudy white ceiling, pierced in a circular shape for roof lights. This ceiling is an example of modernist libraries putting into practice the possibilities offered by 21st century technologies. The atmosphere of calm simplicity invites visitors to read, learn, think and have fun. On this floor, visitors can enjoy an unobstructed 360-degree panoramic view of the city center or access the terrace overlooking Kansalaistori square.
Materials Used in the Library
The Oodi library is a building where local materials are used and regional climatic conditions are taken into account. The exterior of the library is clad with Finnish spruce planks 33 millimeters thick. This material was used to create a canopy over the Kansalaistori square, uniting the indoor and outdoor spaces and providing a shelter for public events.
The materials used in the construction of the Oodi library are not only functional. They have also been carefully selected to provide an aesthetic appearance and user experience. The Finnish spruce planks provide a natural look and add warmth and character to the library building.
The library reflects an environmentally sensitive approach with the use of local materials. The wooden facade was preferred in accordance with the principles of sustainability and conservation of natural resources. This shows that Oodi is an environmentally sustainable building.
The Oodi library is both a functionally and aesthetically important building. The use of local materials and design has created a space that adds value to the cultural and social life of Helsinki.
The upper surface of the entenin was designed in a special way. It was used to create a large public terrace from which the citizens of Helsinki can look directly over the square to the main entrance of the Finnish parliament. This terrace has doubled the amount of public open space available to library visitors and provided them with a new place to observe the magical view of the city.
- 1. Oodi Library designed and built by whom?
- Oodi Library was designed and built by ALA Architecture in Helsinki.
- 2. How many square meters does the library have and how many books does it hold?
- The Oodi Library has an area of 17,250 square meters and houses more than 100,000 books.
- 3. In what architectural style was it designed and what values does it symbolize?
- The library is designed in a modern architectural style and symbolizes values such as democracy, freedom of expression and active citizenship.
- 4. Which features make it stand out and for what purposes is it designed?
- Oodi stands out as a technology-oriented and innovative building. At the same time, it is designed not only as a book lending center, but also as a space that serves different purposes. These include a café, restaurant, cinema and studio.
- 5. What facilities are provided for users?
- The library uses digital technologies and artificial intelligence to make it easier to find and borrow books.
- 6. What is the location of Oodi?
- The Oodi Library is located in the center of Helsinki on the Public Square (Kansalaistori), surrounded by the Finnish Parliament Building and various civic institutions.
- 7. What materials were used to build it?
- The library was built with local materials and regional climatic conditions in mind. Particularly noteworthy is the wooden facade clad with Finnish spruce planks 33 millimeters thick.
- 8. Which functions are located on which floors?
- The library is functionally designed on three different levels. There is an active entrance on the ground floor, flexible rooms on the middle floor and a multi-purpose space called “Book Paradise” on the roof floor.
- 9. What are the technologies used in the design of Oodi?
- The library utilizes the advantages of technology to make it easier to find and borrow books. In addition, approximately 3.4 million books are digitally hosted.
My thoughts about the Oodi Library
Combining books, which should be counted as one of the most basic needs, and today’s inevitable technological reality, the effects of this building on its region and the building group to which it belongs cannot be denied. Oodi Library, which is one of the most important proofs that technology, with proper use, makes almost everything more beautiful and more useful than the old understanding, makes us feel that not only itself but also the surrounding environment and the fate of these structures will not be the same as before…
What do you think about the Oodi Library? Do you think there might be something that it has forgotten while containing so many features? Is there anything missing or wrong? If you haven’t checked it out yet, you can also read our review of the ancient city of Ephesus, which reflects the understanding of the library thousands of years ago, here.
Architect: ALA Architecture Office
Architectural Style: Modern-Contemporary Architecture
Year: 2018
Location: Helsinki,Finland
Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo