Library Buildings around the World

http://www.ark-l-m.fi
Libraries:
Lohja Main Library – Lohja City Library, Lohja – Finland 2005
3500 m²
The library building is a part of the 'cultural campus' in the centre of Lohja. Its architecture directs the flow of pedestrian traffic
towards the cultural complex and into the library. Its principal material, red brick, integrates the building into the existing civic
architecture; in the interior, the red brick walls delineate the open spatial composition as one entity and guide the eyes towards its
primary aspects, the town centre and the church. The library is literally built for its location. The building has an in-situ, posttensioned
concrete frame and red brick walls. (Lahdelma)
The city of Lohja organised an open architectural competition for a new main library in 2002. In Finland many even smaller
municipalities have their own public library. They act as the public living room and as the cultural centre also for a wider region.
After the competition the design was further refined on the basis of our winning entry.
The Main Library is part of the group of civic buildings of the town centre together with the Church of St. Lawrence, school centre,
Laurentius Hall and the Lohja Music Institute. It is quite fitting that the new library is also a meeting place that guides people
arriving in the area.
A central location in the town’s fabric is an ideal point of departure for library activities, however, the plot being partially within the
town block set demanding challenges for the overall scheme. The angled lines of the walls define the position of the oblong two-storey
building. Inside the red brick walls act as an organising element that integrates the openly linked spaces into a unified whole and also
direct the sight towards the most important views: the town centre and the old church.
We broke the horizontality resulting from the two-storey interior height by opening it up with conical roof lights, which also play a
part in the resulting townscape.
Lohja Main Library is literally built for its site on the site as it has a post-tensioned concrete frame cast in-situ and red brick walls.
(http://de.urbarama.com)
Rauma Main Library, Rauma – Finland 2003
Extent Floor area 4 550 m2, Gross area 4 600 m2, Volume 24 600 m3 The library building is part of the arts and cultural centre of
the town. Designed by Architectural firm Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Oy. Ilmari Lahdelma, architect (SAFA), professor. The total
expenditure of the construction building 6 362 000 €, movables 636 000 €.
The Main Library of Rauma has a significant role to play in the townscape. It acts as a unifying element in the field of space formed
by buildings of different age and a park. The low-built library, with its timber facades, makes a reference to the delineation of urban
spaces in Old Rauma, the town´s historic centre, and the element of surprise contained therein.
The transparency of the library building communicates the openness of its operation. Towards the canal the library forms sheltered
courtyard spaces, which can be used for theatrical performances and other events. The character of the library is based on the
timeless values of architecture, attention to site requirements, spatial variety, well-thought-out views and vivacious use of natural
light as an element of the interior.
The principal part of the building has a reinforced concrete frame, with the exception of the reading room, which has a frame of
glue-laminated timber. The facade materials are painted timber and glass. Silk screen printing was used to create patterns emulating
the lightness of lace, in the making of which Rauma has a long tradition, to the glass parts of the facade.
The City of Rauma held an invited architectural competition on the library in spring 2000 and the competition entry which the
design is based on, was awarded the first prize. (Lahdelma)
The Rauma Main Library has a significant role to play in the townscape. It is a unifying element in a space formed by buildings of
different ages and a park. The transparency of the library building communicates the openness of its operations.
The local traits and traditions are taken into account in the design of the building. The façade is made of painted timber and glass.
Silk screen printing was used to create patterns emulating the lightness of lace, the making of which has a long tradition in Rauma,
on the glass parts of the façade. Bunches of metallic letters hanging from the ceiling form words in the Rauma dialect.
The Library operates on two floors.
A newspaper reading room, the children’s department, part of the adult department, a conference and computer room as well as
most of the staff offices are situated on the ground floor. The mobile library garage is also on the ground floor.
The adults’ arts, fiction and music collections can be found on the first floor. The study rooms, the artotheque,and office space are
also located there.
The technical equipment includes borrowing and returning self-service machines, free wireless internet, a video surveillance system,
electronic lockdown of the doors and time card system. (http://www.building.libaries.fi)
Vaasa City Library, Vaasa – Finland 2001
Extent Gross area 8,050 m2, the area of renovation covers almost half of the size, Interior design: Design and Architecture Gullstén
& Inkinen, Overall Cost: € 9.500.000
The purpose of library and information services is to promote equal access to education, literature and art, and to constant
development of knowledge, skills, and civic prowess, as well as to internationalism and life-long learning. The library will produce
virtual and interactive web services as well as educational content in data networks.
Finland's first lending library Vaasan Lukukirjasto was founded 1794 in Vaasa, for "the amusement and pastime" of the members
in Vaasan Luku-Seura.
In 1936 the library moved into its present location Kirjastonkatu 13, the first premises in its history that were purpose-built for the
library.
Architectural idea or principle:
The new library building reflects the internal landscape of knowledge. The different bridges combine - symbolically and concretely -
old and new, humanities and sciences, as well as the various subject areas. In Vaasa, we have had the chance to combine a unique
history of Finnish library services with futuristic visions of libraries. The new library building will be a dynamic bridge between old
and new. New media and materials, future electronic operations, will find their place in the library complementing its traditional
mode of activities. Nevertheless, the essence and idea of library services will remain ageless. (http://www.librarybuildings.info)
Arkkitehdit NRT, Helsinki – Finland
http://www.n-r-t.fi
Libraries :
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