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Architecture of Israel #
115
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November
2018
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Contemporary Finnish Architecture
page
english readers
Seinäjoki Library, Finland
Designed by Alvar Aalto in 1965, the Seinäjoki
Civic Center is a continuum of box-like buildings,
among them the main library that has served the
city for four decades. City expansion generated
new needs and in 2008 the municipality decided
to conduct a design competition for a new library
that would contain the existing structure.
The winning proposal was based on Aalto's
concept of a dialog with the environment,
while multi-directional openings express his
unique reference to natural light that internally
determines the various functional areas: reading,
storage and encounter areas.
Despite the structural separation, the buildings
are integrated in an open, flowing plan. Special
thought was invested in attracting young readers
through games and interest-provoking seating
corners.
A variety of finishing materials creates an affinity
between old and new. A descending passage
leading to the old building expresses Aalto’s
traditional use of sunken spaces, separating
readers from the environment, in order to
facilitate concentration – an important and
usually neglected motif in the design of modern
libraries.
JKMM Architects
Photos:
Tuomas Uusheimo; Mika Huisman.
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