Aiming to provide a meeting place for information, knowledge, skills, and stories, the proposal by Marc Anton Dahmen | Studio DMTW for the Helsinki Central Library competition reflects the creativity, innovation and interaction for the people of Helsinki. Resulting in the sculptural massing of the building, their design derives from the creation of an vertical circulation element, connecting the building by transiting from one function to another throughout the entire collection area. More images and architects’ description after the break.
“The Ramp” expresses a gradual vertical connection between the main lobby towards the library collections. This main circulation triples as the library exhibition along with working spaces and the pathway. The first halves of the ramp begins from the center of the first floor towards the second floor on the park side of the building, whereas the second halves connects the second floor to the center of the third floor on the street side. It creates several atmospheric moods from the distinguished functions of the exhibition to the oases and the pathway. Which generates social interaction possibilities for the nearby users and visual connection to those in different levels and activities. As a result, the ramp becomes the base of the overall sculpture of the building.
