Dura Mater

Helsinki Central Library

Helsinki, Gulf of Finland, Finland

2007

CLIENT

MUNICIPALITY

TYPOLOGY

EDUCATION - PUBLIC SPACE

SIZE MQ / FT2

32.000 - 345,000

STATUS

SUBMITTED PROPOSAL

The new Helsinki central library serves as an extension of the natural park surrounding it. The park filters itself into the library traveling from the West to the East of the city block becoming “trapped” into building structure.

The park pushes the masses both horizontally, North and East, and vertical, ground to ski.

The result is a U shape building elevated thought a ramp traveling from the ground level and culminating in a roof terrace. Furthermore, the horizontal force of the park divides the building into two wings, North and East and transforms itself into an interior reading garden.

Horizontally, the building is connected by the café at the ground level and the restaurant and sauna at the top level liked by a direct elevator.

The trapped park forms two panoramic windows seeking to scape looking in the direction of the parliament building to the West and Alexandria to the South. All the knowledge brought into the library by the city through the park makes the new Helsinki central library the brain of the metropolis; a direct receiver and transmitter of information and excitement clearly reflected by its constant ever-changing program of events and its permanent collection of knowledge.

DURA MATER / The BRAIN of the Metropolis HELSINKI CENTRAL LIBRARY
The concept for the New Central Library of Helsinki is based on the Human Brain, metaphorically connecting the city of Helsinki with its natural creative engine, the Library,. Alike the Human Brain, whose various areas meet different functions, the library is organized in very different zones and functions, some completely opposite in character and nature.
Similarto the Dura Mater ofthe brain,the Library envelope carries information both to its users and as a response to the environment around it Spirit, Mind, Body.

The Library is accessible on its roof via a ramp that begins at grade on the main piazza. The promenade ascension is both a physical experience of the changing city scape and the spiritual counterpart to the idea of “change” in mind. Similar to Dante’s journey, the sloping uphill can be experienced as a transformative moment, arriving at the top floor room which faces south towards Alexandria and the Finnish Parliament.

The Library ultimate viewpoints are the two large window-rooms of the top floor restaurant, Jazz bar and Sauna. These spaces face west and south, aligning respectively with the Parliament and House of Music, and the trajectory of the Alexandria Library in Egypt. These views activate a connection to the past, present and future of the library and welcome visitors to re-experience it in a forward-thinking dimension.

IMPACT IN Full space and Lobby Garden Inside the Library spaces are diverse, complex and exciting. Organized around the central garden lobby, which can be designed as an enclosable winter garden, the two main wings of the library and the east and west bridges act as extension branches from the central garden core, similarly to the beautiful and serene areas created around the trees.

URBAN LOCI Reciprocal Feeding OVERALL TECHNICAL STRATEGY: DURA MATER PERFORMANCE ENVELOPE

This building is designed to use the building envelope as the primary thermal and electrical generator and regulator and uses the district heating, cooling and grid electricity as efficient back-up.

The technical systems of this building are primarily housed within themulti- layered assembly of the building envelope carrying an interior and exterior narrow planar cavity or plenum for the flow of energy and material (hydronic heat, ventilative air, DC electrical).
A translucent insulative core of aerogel, luminous concrete or motorized shading is bounded on both interior and exterior by these cavities and the surface is enclosed with and interior and exterior dual pane insulated glazing units.