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It took 20 years from planning to completion and cost €3.5 billion to build this public library housing 100,000 books. To celebrate the centennial of the country’s independence, Finland named this central library “Oodi,” which has become a very important public infrastructure project in recent Finnish history.
The uniquely massive library exterior. (Photo / Keskustakirjasto Oodi, the same below)
The Central Library – Oodi was opened in early December in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. The designer, drawing on Finland’s image as a country characterized by “knowledge, learning, and peace,” created this distinctly Nordic-style library as a tribute to the nation recognized globally as one of the most educated and cultural.
The interior adopts an open design, aiming to foster creativity through interaction among users.
In addition to its 140,000-book collection, the library also houses reading rooms, recording studios, a kitchen studio, a game room, and offers equipment such as laser cutters and 3D printers to support comprehensive education and cultural heritage.
The building features numerous open public areas that provide spaces for users to rest and socialize.
The building’s exterior combines large wooden streamline structures with glass, standing adjacent to the Helsinki City Hall. It aims not only to offer a space for literary cultivation but also to serve as a hub for the inheritance of crafts, film, music, and other cultural forms.
The open layout provides more opportunities for interaction.
Although it houses 140,000 books, they only occupy one-third of the library space. The remaining areas are designed as interactive living spaces, intended to bring more community engagement to the residents of Helsinki.
The central library located next to the City Hall.
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