Helsinki, a city committed to finding the evolving nature of culture in an ever changing society, is the inspiration behind STL Architects’ proposal for the new Library. If a library is a container of culture with the mission of making knowledge available to the people, then Helsinki is one of the greatest libraries in the world. The new Helsinki Central Library is conceived as a reflection of its city, acting as a filter of cultural activity, and honoring the lifeblood of the Heart of Helsinki: its people. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Everyone is invited into the open, flowing, and vibrant spaces which will help the Central Library act as a catalyst for social and cultural interaction. Helsinki is a compact organism that provides a forum for human activities; it is an urban theatre of life and culture. Helsinki’s city plan displays two coexisting programmatic realities, two parallel environments of activity: Structured spaces and Flexible spaces. These two realities define each other both in concept and form. The Structured spaces provide a background in which Flexible spaces unfold. Structured spaces have a three dimensional expression, they are buildings which contain activities. Flexible spaces on the other hand take place in the interstitial spaces left between the buildings; they are the plazas and parks connected by streets and boulevards.
