Helsinki’s Oodi Central Library Is a Hybrid Urban Living Space

Oodi Central Library Helsinki

Oodi Central Library revamped the traditional city library to create a hybrid community hub in Helsinki that offers residents a "living meeting place" — including music studios, a maker space, and even a sauna.

With the range of resources and specialist equipment on offer at Oodi Central Library, Helsinki residents can learn to sew or access a 3D printer at your local library. Opened in 2018, it offers more than your typical library creating a community meeting place with regular events and workshops, music rehearsal and performance spaces, play areas, a cinema, and even a sauna.

Oodi Central Library Helsinki
Oodi Central Library Helsinki
Oodi Central Library Helsinki
The building was designed by ALA Architects

Each storey is designed to create a unique atmosphere. The first floor offers an open-plan hall, event spaces, and a cinema. The second floor is home to designated work areas including photography, music and recording studios, games rooms, and meeting rooms. Finally, the third floor brings relaxation and play together with a vast book collection, reading areas and a children’s play area.

Oodi Central Library Helsinki
Oodi Central Library Helsinki

Furthermore, specially designed robots take care of transporting books in the library, leaving staff free to help visitors. For example, with the public services Brygga, Helsinki-info and EU@Oodi. Helsinki-info offers digital services, information and advice from the City of Helsinki while Brygga shows the City’s Urban Environment Division current developments in the community. EU@Oodi is a multimedia station that aims to communicate the Europa Experience and the EU’s work in the wider EU community.

Oodi Central Library Helsinki
Oodi Central Library Helsinki

The library reinvents what is expected of libraries by offering a vibrant and inclusive space that opens up endless new opportunities for its users. From the citizen’s advice services to access to new hobbies, Oodi is both a cultural hub and a practical space where locals can find accessible resources. It combines the space of the library with a socialising space, event space and leisure centre where Helsinkians can learn and explore in a public space.