Töölö Library in Helsinki, designed by Aarne Ervi and completed in 1970, bears resemblance to the architecture of Alvar Aalto’s Viipuri Library. Equally ultramodern in its own context, it is also a white object in the park, and the flowing sequence of library spaces follows a logic similar to the one in Vyborg. Töölö Library had one of the first modern music libraries in Finland.

Mustonen Architects were in charge of the 2017 restoration of Töölö Library.

The text is an extract from the chapter ‘Human Potential’ of Mind-Building, Finland’s exhibition at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.

Location

Topeliuksenkatu 6, Helsinki
60.1833659, 24.917488

Images

Töölö Library
Töölö Library (© Arno de la Chapelle)
Töölö Library
Töölö Library (© Arno de la Chapelle)
Aerial view in 1976, Töölö Library
Aerial view in 1976, Töölö Library (© SKY-foto Möller / Helsinki City Museum)
Staircase, Töölö Library
Staircase, Töölö Library (© Mustonen Architects)
Lending desk, Töölö Library
Lending desk, Töölö Library (© Teuvo Kanerva / Museum of Finnish Architecture)
The library hall in 1970s, Töölö Library
The library hall in 1970s, Töölö Library (© Teuvo Kanerva / Museum of Finnish Architecture)
Skylight, Töölö Library
Skylight, Töölö Library (© Teuvo Kanerva / Museum of Finnish Architecture)
Töölö Library
Töölö Library (© Teuvo Kanerva / Museum of Finnish Architecture)
Reading room, Töölö Library
Reading room, Töölö Library (© Teuvo Kanerva / Museum of Finnish Architecture)
Töölö Library
Töölö Library (© Helsinki City Museum)
Music library facilities, Töölö Library
Music library facilities, Töölö Library (© Teuvo Kanerva / Museum of Finnish Architecture)
Töölö Library
Töölö Library (© Teuvo Kanerva / Museum of Finnish Architecture)
Early site plan sketch, Töölö Library
Early site plan sketch, Töölö Library (© Aarne Ervi / Museum of Finnish Architecture)
Ground floor, Töölö Library
Ground floor, Töölö Library (© Aarne Ervi / Museum of Finnish Architecture)
1st floor, Töölö Library
1st floor, Töölö Library (© Aarne Ervi / Museum of Finnish Architecture)
Section, Töölö Library
Section, Töölö Library (© Aarne Ervi / Museum of Finnish Architecture)
Music library sofas, Töölö Library
Music library sofas, Töölö Library (© Aarne Ervi / Museum of Finnish Architecture)
Sketch drawing, Töölö Library
Sketch drawing, Töölö Library (© Aarne Ervi / Museum of Finnish Architecture)
Renovation site plan, Töölö Library
Renovation site plan, Töölö Library (© Mustonen Architects)

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