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Designs proposed for the library of the future on display

5.3.2013

The proposed designs selected for the second stage of the Helsinki Central Library architectural competition will be put on public display at Helsinki Art Museum Meilahti.

Heart of the Metropolis, the architectural competition on the Helsinki Central Library, is part of the programme of World Design Capital Helsinki 2012. The six designs selected for the second stage of the competition will be on public display from 23 March to 5 April. The public is welcome to give feedback on the designs.  

The architects and teams of the second competition stage have been given an opportunity to develop their designs further on the basis of guidelines from the jury. The exhibition in Meilahti will include images of the reworked designs and architectural models of the designs. Visitors can give feedback both at the exhibition and online. Feedback can also be given on digital city screens located in various sections of Helsinki.

The public shows high interest in the architectural designs

The first stage of the Helsinki Central Library architectural competition was launched on 5 January 2012. More than 540 designs were submitted from all over the world.

All designs were put on display at the former harbour warehouse Bunkkeri in Jätkäsaari in the spring of 2012. The display was highly popular among the general public and, as a result, the display’s duration was extended. The popular choice was design number 126 entitled “Paper Sheets”.

Architectural competition nearing conclusion 

The architectural competition progressed to the second stage in the autumn of 2012, and the six designs invited to the second stage were announced. These six designs were selected on the basis of architectural and functional merits as well as compliance with the Helsinki cityscape. The jury considered that they could be developed further to meet the technological and ecological goals set for the library. The six designs can be seen on the Helsinki Central Library website.

The jury will pick the winner from among the six designs. The winner will be announced in June 2013. The competition is organized by the City of Helsinki.

Heart of the Metropolis – International architectural competition on the Helsinki Central Library as part of the programme of World Design Capital Helsinki 2012

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