..News ..Portfolio ..Exhibitions ..Publications ..Firm ..Contact	The Turku Library, 1998 Library and Commercial Building Turku - Finland, Competition Urban Situation The whole building block on the competition site is an image of the extremely changing building styles in course of time. Even Alvar Aaltos "Turun Sanomat" is powerless against the heterogeneous accumulation of eave heights, story heights and distances to the street edge. In the given situation the project tries to support the existing qualities of the block. Using the soft method of acupuncture means to complete the existing urban texture by weaving the patterns to a tissue. Strategies A gentle continuation of the profile of the Turun-Sanomat-building strengthens the character of Kauppiaskatu and accentuates the building block at the street corner. Being a separate building the library simultaneously builds up a link with those buildings, that are not following the idea of a closed block. The diagonal open space between the two buildings creates a strong relation to the old library and continues the movement to the Kauppatori. The Library and the Commercial Building (The beauty and the beast) To combine two very different things, it is helpful to find common interests. The commonness for a library and a commercial building is the desire to reach public and publicity. While the main entrances of both buildings are facing towards the plaza, synergy is raised. One building is not the appendage of the other. The commercial building creates the framework for the library, which can evolve freely. Simultaneously this freedom defines the character of the commercial building. The significance of the site is essentially increased, by opening of library to both streets. Independence and joint interests are represented in a clear way. Both buildings complement one another. The area between the buildings develops a spatial quality, that invites people to linger. The users of both buildings mix up - or even better make use of both institutions The Library The library is arranged on 4 main levels. The inner distribution is organised around the central daylight atrium. The simple structure contributes to continuous flexibility and makes orientation easy. The visitor obtains an overview at the entrance and finds his way to the requested information easily. The info-square as well as the consultation desks in the special departments are always located at the atrium. The central hall makes it possible to catch all fields of knowledge by one glance. The visitor gets an idea of the size and the supply of the library. Curiosity and communication are stimulated. The cafeteria on ground floor is located exactly in this central zone that signifies exposition, orientation and communication. The way to the reading-desks goes from the centre to the outer border between the shelves. The outer zones are quiet areas for reading and working connected with the outside through a transparent facade. The library works as a show window for the access to knowledge and entertainment. Technical Information Client Turun Kaupunki Kiinteistä-ja rakennustoimi Project Team Alfred Berger, Tiina Parkkinen, Peter Thalbauer, Ivan Zdenkovic Consultants Structural Engineers: Dipl.-Ing. Manfred Gmeiner Wien Facade Engineering: DEWI Wien Back to Portfolio