Author Description

Mind-Building' tells the story of Finnish public libraries and library architecture throughout the times. It presents 17 library buildings from different periods, grouped under specific themes and curated by architectural critic and scholar Anni Vartola, with texts describing the themes, drawings and photos of the buildings and extracts from different sources such as newspapers, competition briefs and architectural reviews.0The oldest library in the book is the Rikhardinkatu Library in Helsinki from 1881, the first library in the Nordic region especially built as a public library. The libraries also include Alvar Aalto?s masterpiece Viipuri Library (1935), Tampere Main Library Metso (1986) by Raili and Reima Pietiläknown for their original and organic architecture, and Academician Juha Leiviskä?s Vallila Library in Helsinki (1991) using light as its most important architectural element.0Turku Main Library (2007) by JKMM Architects marks a turning point in Finnish library architecture, hence the name of the theme?Soft Fulcrum?, under which are also presented two other libraries by the architects, Seinäjoki Main Library Apila (2012) and Harald Herlin Learning Centre in Espoo (2016). Maunula Community Centre in Helsinki (2017) comprises a library, youth centre and adult education facilities. For the project, K2S Architects developed participatory design methods together with the City of Helsinki and managed to evoke strong involvement in the local citizens.00Exhibition: Finnish Pavilion, 16th Architecture Biennale, Venice, Italy (26.05.-25.11.2018).