Visited Lahti Main City Library
My wife had a meeting with a colleague in the city. I wasn't working today and I decided to drive my wife to city center and visit the library with our daughter in the meantime. The main library is an example of good modern architecture. It won the Concrete Structure of the Year prize in 1990. It was designed by Arto Sipinen. Its interior was designed by the architects Ursula Lähteenkorva-Nakai and Ulla Korpela. I lack sufficient architectural vocabulary to explain why I like it. But the space feels kind of lightweight and there is a lot of light in it. The acoustic design was a success judging by the lack of any disturbing noise anywhere in the building. Except for the lobby right after the main doors the floor material appears to absorb sound.
Some photos below:
The main entrance
This brutalistic monstrosity is a theatre next to the library.
A view from the entrance
This is where you return what you've borrowed. The machine reads the bar codes and prints a receipt after you're done.
The self-service loan desk. Finland is very much a self-service society compared to, for instance, Sweden. We visited Stockholm in October 2016 and there were a large number of immigrants working at subway stations. There was also an elderly native selling tickets on the tram. There are no such things in Finland at all. Automating everything seems to be a national goal in Finland.
High ceiling in the main part of the building
An atrium next to the main part
This may have been inspired by Japanese stone gardens.
The kids' section
If you need to make a phone call you can go in there.
The second floor.
The music section.
You can listen to music under those strange domes without headphones or disturbing others.
A reading corner on the second floor. The architecture and interior design are very typically modern Nordic.
Bookshelves in the main section on the first floor
The cafeteria on the left from the main entrance
This door is an emergency exit. Does anything stand out in this picture?
The floor is lowered here by about 50-100 cm.
I borrowed these.
The one on the left is the Finnish translation of Stanislaw Lem'sFables for Robots and the one on the right is the first part of an environmental disaster dystopia novel series Silo set in the future written by Hugh Howey.
Are you Kidding me @markkujantunen?
It's just what I'm reading right now, stalker :D I have no idea why they called it "Mirage" in the Spanish version, for so many lies maybe, I only know that I go more than half and I don't know if I read the whole trilogy or download fallout 4 because it is what causes me the more I read, well it's incredible library, I don't know much of architecture so I can't comment much but, as an addict reader I tell you that I would love to spend a full afternoon inside with a stack of books on each side of my chair.
I hope it is empty for the time and not because it has little attendance because they don't know how lucky they are to have such incredible installations.
Friend Markku. I do not know how to describe what it feels like to see that majestic library. in my 43 years I had seen something like that, although in my time as a student at the university I practically lived in the Biblioetca of the university, there I met my current and only wife, I always remember those wonderful moments that I lived in those spaces sharing knowledge. The Library of my university is very beautiful but it is because of my love that I say that. since the government does everything possible to destroy it, as it is doing with my university.
Well, I imagine through the photos, you can notice that it is one of the places where you can concentrate a lot on what you are reading, where you can only hear the sound of the shoes when walking. Very quiet, it is perfect for reading friend.
That's true. The acoustic design part of the interior design was very good.
Hi Markku. I noticed the last time I was in England that a lot of the local libraries are closing down. The internet has taken it's place. Happy to still see people using it though. Haven't been to one in years. I don't even know where there is one round here.
From what you describe, in that place they have controlled and neutralized the sound. Total silence for an excellent reading environment.
Very nice library!! So many books etc. I quite like the design and the space with lots of natural light!