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“Käännös” won the Helsinki Central Library Competition

The results of the Helsinki Central Library Competition were announced today: The winner is entry “Käännös” by ALA Architects. This elegantly beautiful entry was also our favorite, we’re very glad it won! The construction is set to start in 2015 and the library should be ready in 2017, just in time to celebrate 100 years of independent Finland. The library has been selected to be a 100th anniversary jubilee project so the Finnish state will provide significant funding for it. All images courtesy of Helsinki Central Library

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Review: Holmris XTable by KiBiSi

Lately our office has been a joy to work in as I got a Holmris XTable for my computer desk. When choosing a height adjustable table I did not want another plug-in gadget with an electric motor so I went with the manual crank adjustable XTable. The desk has been designed by a young Danish design firm KiBiSi. The designers have done a good job designing an elegantly minimalistic table that is also a joy to use. The height of the 160 x 80 cm (63″ x 31 ½”) desk can be adjusted between 63 and 120 cm (24 ¾” and 47 ¼”) by turning the crank. The crank is pleasantly light to turn even when the table is loaded with gadgets, laptops and whatnot. Some people have wondered if one would hit feet against the table legs when sitting, but due to the table legs being on the back side, this never […]

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Library bikes hit the streets of Helsinki

Helsinki Central Library hits the streets with six library bikes. The bikes will ride the streets of Helsinki on 13–14 of June from 10 am to 6 pm. Brilliant! “The library belongs where all people are, on the streets and in the alleys, wherever people get together, run their errands and live their lives. The Central Library is taking the skills, information and stories of a library to the people with the help of six bikes, and is inviting them to discover the new and exciting possibilities of doing things together.” –Keskustakirjasto.fi On the 14th of June the winner of the Helsinki Central Library architectural competition will be announced. Stay tuned! All images courtesy of Jonas Tana/ Helsinki City Library

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Allas gets approval

Helsinki harbor bath project Allas just got approval by Helsinki Municipality. Now the aim is to open up the harbor bath and the accompanying mixed use spaces at Katajanokka on the May 1st 2014. There will be four pools. The pools for fitness swimming, leisure swimming and for children will have heated and filtered water. There is a sea-water pool for diving and a climbing wall from where you will fall to the sea water. There are many saunas that are heated with wood. There’s also a beach volley court, a sand beach, and different spa services. And that’s only a part of the planned features. The site will have action all year round, different functions in different seasons. Korjaamo will present and discuss the project in an open seminar at Korjaamo on Helsinki Day the 12th of June, starting at 18:00. Everyone is invited to join the discussion and […]

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Scaretrains

Someone has installed these colorful scarecrows next to the rail tracks between Järvenpää and Kerava, close to the Kyrölä station. A brilliantly amusing piece that’s sure to wake up commuters. Anyone know who did this?

The Guardian: Serpentine pavilion by Sou Fujimoto

Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto’s take on Serpentine pavilion looks like a white cloud in Hyde Park, London. Architecture critic Oliver Wainwright reviews the pavilion and interviews the architect for The Guardian. In today’s overload of wow-architecture it is increasingly difficult to impress with a pavilion, yet Serpentine Gallery manages to provide positive surprises year after year. I think Sou Fujimoto’s pavilion stands proud with the most interesting pavilions of recent years, SANAA’s pavilion in 2009, Peter Zumthor + Pier Oudolf’s in 2011 and Herzog & de Meuron + Ai Weiwei’s pavilion in 2012.

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Stereotank: Little Free Library

The Architectural League of New York teamed up with Pen World Voices Festival to bring the wonderful community movement Little Free Library to New York City. They chose ten designers to create one Little Free Library each in Manhattan. New York based Stereotank was selected to design a Library at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral School on Prince Street in Nolita. The idea, as the name suggests, is to create small book trading posts for local people to share. Stereotank’s design consists of a plastic book exchange pod on top of a wooden frame. The pod has small peepholes that allow visitors to peek in and quickly check the current collection. Then they can duck and enter the library to browse the books and take, return or share a book. From inside, the visitor is still connected to the surroundings through the small holes. The installation will spice up Nolita until September 2013. We really enjoy […]