Oodi presented at the Venice International Architecture Exhibition
The Helsinki Central Library Oodi, which is to be opened in December 2018, is an open meeting place at Kansalaistori, right in the heart of Helsinki. Oodi’s ground floor was opened to the public for the first time on Tuesday, 22 May. Oodi will also receive the international visibility it deserves as it is presented at the Venice International Architecture Exhibition for six months, starting on 26 May.
The International Architecture Exhibition has been organised in Venice since 1980. It alternates with the International Art Exhibition, which was established in 1895. The architecture exhibition has developed into the most esteemed international arena for showcasing architecture, with over a quarter of a million visitors in the last edition, in 2016.
The Finnish section responds to the Architecture Exhibition’s theme this year, Freespace, by converting the Aalto Pavilion into a temporary library space. The exhibition at the Finnish pavilion, Mind-Building, presents the development of Finnish library architecture and looks towards the libraries of the future. As the library of the new era, Oodi plays a natural part in the centre of the exhibition. In his opening speech of the section on 24 May, Jan Vapaavuori, Mayor of Helsinki, will speak about the significance of Oodi and the commitment of Helsinki to culture and architecture.
“It is wonderful that Oodi is included in the Venice International Architecture Exhibition. It is a way of telling the world about the new library, as well as the Finnish library institution,” says Anna-Maria Soininvaara, Director of Oodi. “Finnish construction, including wood and energy-efficiency, is an area of interest even abroad,” Soininvaara continues.
ALA Architects is responsible for the main and architectural planning of Oodi. ALA won the open international architecture competition organised for the design of the Central Library in 2013. The starting point was that the building should be a public, open to everyone, safe, and free of charge city space in the heart of the city.
“Oodi will be one of the freest buildings in Helsinki, or even the Nordic Countries, where the visitor can do many things and take initiative in what they want to do,” says Antti Nousjoki, partner at ALA Architects. “It is a constantly learning and developing tool for those living in or visiting Helsinki.”
Architecture Information Centre Finland (Archinfo) is responsible for the exhibition in the Finnish pavilion. The exhibition opens to the public on 26 May, and will remain open for six months.
La Biennale di Venezia
16th International Architecture Exhibition ‘Freespace’
Open to public from 26 May to 25 November
Preview days on 24–25 May
Mind-Building
The exhibition of the Finnish pavilion
vernissage May 24 at 3 pm
Follow the Mind-Building exhibition and Oodi on Twitter:
@VeniceArchFIN / @oodihelsinki
#MindBuilding #BiennaleArchitettura2018 #Freespace
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