architects Vesa Tuomas Oiva, Anna Selina Anttinen
project Kaisa-Helsinki University Main Library, Helsinki, Finland
written by Mikko Summanen

 

We stand in the heart of the new library with architect Vesa Oiva. The oval-shaped void opens above us on the main entrance floor and is crowned by a skylight. Visitors calmly move along the travertine-clad surface. It is hard to believe that the building has been open for only two days, so well does everything seem to be in place. Even though expressive in form and space, the architecture has an element of agelessness which makes one feel the building has been there for some time.