Töölö Library

This is my entry to the community blipfoto architecture challenge - the local municipal library for Töölö, which is the part of Helsinki we live in.

It's hard to choose what to enter for such a challenge. Helsinki is an absolute dream of a place for a fan of architectural modernism (and indeed the more contemporary stuff, as witness the Music Centre, the Kiasma Gallery (visible on the right here with the Music Centre on the left) or the University Library). I chose this local library, because, quoting from the Visit Helsinki webpage, "The Töölö Library building, situated next to the Topelius Park, typifies modernism and is a fine example of library architecture of the 1960s. Curved shapes, light colors, bright spaces divided by glass walls and large windows opening onto the park are typical architectural features." There's a nice wee history of the building here. The architect for the building was Aarne Ervi, the same architect as for the Porthania building, which is one of my favourite Helsinki buildings, especially its amazing staircase. As I understand it, one of the features of Ervi's approach, like his more famous architectural 'cousin' Aalto (whose Finlandia Hall could easily have been my entry), was that he designed everything about the building - not just the shell, but every detail of the building as lived and built environment. But I could just as easily have chosen another building for my blip, like the Round House or even the striking buildings that we live in, designed by Martta and Ragnar Ypyä.

The respect for architectural excellence that is reflected in having this type of building as your local community library is one of the features that makes me enjoy living in Finland, and experiencing that built and lived environment.