Oodi is the Helsinki Central Library, situated at Kansalaistori square in Helsinki, Finland, Northern Europe. It stands as a non-commercial, urban public space accessible to all, directly facing the Parliament Building.
Following three years of construction, Oodi was officially unveiled to the public on December 5, 2018. This significant edifice was presented by the Finnish government to the nation in celebration of its 100th anniversary of independence. Before 1917, Finland was never an independent state. It transitioned from being part of the Kingdom of Sweden to becoming an autonomous Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire, before finally achieving independence and becoming the nation-state known today as Finland. In a world where independence anniversaries are marked by the construction of traditional monuments, this initiative has sparked interest in numerous European nations. As the guide took us there, I recollected hearing about it in the media as a noteworthy illustration of commemorating the nation’s independence. The endeavor amounted to approximately 98 million euros, encompassing not only the building’s construction, but also the cutting-edge technology and amenities it encompasses.
The exterior, the groundfloor and a view on stairs spanning all floors and the underground section.
Our day in Helsinki proved to be quite tiring. Upon our morning arrival by ferry from Tallinn, Estonia, we first explored the old fortifications located on an island a few kilometers from Helsinki. Subsequently, we ventured into the city center and stumbled upon Oodi, where we could relax on the chairs and take a moment to rest. Later, I left my company to visit the local national museum, only to return to Oodi after three hours, captivated by its interiors and eager to capture them in photographs. However, due to the high volume of visitors, I refrained from taking too many photos out of respect for their privacy.
I appreciate the architectural design of this building. It offers ample open spaces for relaxation and socializing, as well as a variety of rooms for private work or meetings, including a kitechn where people can meet for cooking together. Additionally, it boasts conference rooms and a cinema hall, suited for lectures, film screenings, and different events. The building is structured across three floors. The first floor, essentially the ground level, includes an open space with a small cafeteria, while the basement houses public restrooms. The middle floor provides both open spaces and closed rooms of varying sizes, along with workshops for learning different crafts and large seating steps. Finally, the top floor serves as a library where visitors can freely peruse the collection, find a book, and engage in quiet reading at a desk or in a chair. Also there is an area with plenty of work desks, each equipped with a reading light and power sockets as well as balcony open during the summer season. Oodi has also different music studios, a recording studio with its own control room, and photograph and video studios, as well as a gaming plaza.
The middle flour, where you can meet with friends, work in separate room and learn many hadcrafts.
I didn’t have the chance to thoroughly explore the entire building, but it was filled with people of different ages throughout all areas. I think the idea of such a building would be positively embraced in any city, providing a space for everyone to feel a sense of belonging.
The library at the upper floor.
It is challenging for me to form an opinion about Finnish society after spending just one day in Finland. However, my general knowledge leads me to believe that it is a highly modern society with an outstanding education system and a high standard of living. The education system prioritizes equality, personalized learning paths, and the absence of standardized testing for young children. Finland is a pioneer in technology and innovation, particularly in the fields of telecommunications, digital services, and environmental technology, which was evident in the national museum. What I liked much in the museum was no information overload, with each historical era being presented on interactive boards alongside various exhibits, light displays, and sound presentations. With no prior intel on the country’s history, I quite quickly had a grasp on it. This will be however a topic in a future post.
