HELSINKI CENTRAL LIBRARY OODI_ALA ARCHITECTS

Helsinki Central Library Oodi
ALA Architects
Helsinki, Finland




Name: Helsinki Central Library Oodi
Type: Open competition, 2013, 1st prize
Status: Built, the library opened on December 5, 2018
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Client: City of Helsinki
Program: Library functions, group working spaces, recording studios, maker space, movie theater, multi-purpose hall, café, 17,000 m2 total

Team: ALA partners Juho Grönholm, Antti Nousjoki, Janne Teräsvirta (until 2015) and Samuli Woolston with Niklas Mahlberg, Marina Diaz Garcia, Jyri Eskola, Zuzana Hejtmankova, Anna Juhola, Malgorzata Mutkowska, Justin Ng, Aleksi Niemeläinen, Marlène Oberli-Räihä, Olli Parviainen, Anton Pramstrahler, Akanksha Rathi, Pauliina Rossi, Mikael Rupponen, Mirja Sillanpää, Miguel Silva, 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)









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


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 are visible, attractive, understandable and welcoming to all visitors.


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



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

Photos: Toumas Uusheimo

web ALA: http://ala.fi/