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Oodi, Helsinki’s new flagship library

economist.com

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Re: Oodi, Helsinki’s new flagship library

#61

Post by carlospwk »

tokai wrote: post #32
Emma_Goldman wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since when was studying a 'nostalgic fantasy'? In the UK, libraries are something like social centres: unemployed people go there to read; retired people read the daily papers; people without the internet at home come to use the computers; children come after school until their parents finish work. It's important that there are public spaces like that. It's a lifeline for some people. But most public libraries in the…

>Since when was studying a 'nostalgic fantasy'? Studying is not a nostalgic fantasy. Giving opinions on how public libraries should be run, without any relation to reality is. If you go through the library act I posted you will find that providing silent study places is NOT an object that Finnish public libraries should fulfil. It makes no sense to criticise public libraries for not providing what they shouldn't prov…

>Exactly. The nostalgic fantasy I'm criticising carlospwk for is that public libraries are "noisy, too relaxed and not geared towards actual studying". Not really a position that fosters the needs of the diverse population of patrons.

I could have maybe worded myself better. I don't really care what people do in a library, I just wish it was silent and peaceful like it was before.

Re: Oodi, Helsinki’s new flagship library

#62

Post by carlospwk »

aleksei wrote: post #33
carlospwk wrote: post #7

I don’t think it’s accurate to call Oodi a library. It’s more of a communal space for citizens and a sort of a playground/hangout for kids. With some books. Maybe I’m a cranky old man but I don’t really enjoy these kind of open spaces. It’s noisy, too relaxed and not geared towards actual studying and working. Libraries in Finland no longer have any expectations for peace and quiet.

In my view libraries are simply evolving with the times, but perhaps I'm not yet quite so old after all. I like the idea that there's a public space for soldering, 3D printing, sowing, or just being. I wouldn't really make sweeping generalisations on the state of Finnish libraries based on one modern example intended to be different. Besides, if we're going to have yet another library in the centre of Helsinki, why n…

In the past few years I've been to public libraries in Espoo, Helsinki and Vantaa. They all have the same modern vibe as Oodi (although less glamorous buildings maybe).

>If you need to study the university library is just around the corner. Or the library of the national archives if you prefer a tomb-like silence. Or the one on Rikhardinkatu for the more classic milieu. Choice is good.

Thanks for these recommendations, I have to check them out. The only problem is that to go to a university library is that they are mostly (afaik) in the city center. Kind of a trek for someone from neighbouring counties.

Re: Oodi, Helsinki’s new flagship library

#63

Post by carlospwk »

antris wrote: post #22
carlospwk wrote: post #7

I don’t think it’s accurate to call Oodi a library. It’s more of a communal space for citizens and a sort of a playground/hangout for kids. With some books. Maybe I’m a cranky old man but I don’t really enjoy these kind of open spaces. It’s noisy, too relaxed and not geared towards actual studying and working. Libraries in Finland no longer have any expectations for peace and quiet.

Noisy? Have you been to the place? Yes, there are spaces inside where talking is allowed and encouraged, but there are many separate study halls where it's dead quiet and you can even book your own sound-proofed room if you want total isolation.

I've been there. In my idealistic grumpy old man world, I'd rather have the main area silent and if you want to have a chat, just book a room :)

Re: Oodi, Helsinki’s new flagship library

#64

Post by carlospwk »

arkitaip wrote: post #34
antris wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Noisy? Have you been to the place? Yes, there are spaces inside where talking is allowed and encouraged, but there are many separate study halls where it's dead quiet and you can even book your own sound-proofed room if you want total isolation.

Of course they haven't been there, that would defeat the purpose of ranting about something you know nothing about and ultimately don't care about either.

I'm curious, what made you write this comment? What's with the negativity?

Re: Oodi, Helsinki’s new flagship library

#65

Post by tokai »

carlospwk wrote: post #61
tokai wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Since when was studying a 'nostalgic fantasy'? Studying is not a nostalgic fantasy. Giving opinions on how public libraries should be run, without any relation to reality is. If you go through the library act I posted you will find that providing silent study places is NOT an object that Finnish public libraries should fulfil. It makes no sense to criticise public libraries for not providing what they shouldn't prov…

>Exactly. The nostalgic fantasy I'm criticising carlospwk for is that public libraries are "noisy, too relaxed and not geared towards actual studying". Not really a position that fosters the needs of the diverse population of patrons. I could have maybe worded myself better. I don't really care what people do in a library, I just wish it was silent and peaceful like it was before.

I kind of pounced on your comment, as I'm opposed to a restricted view of libraries. But I think I was a bit too snippy trying to get my point across. I'm sorry, didn't intent to call you out.

I actually had a laugh at myself just after posted my second comment. As had to break up a group of patrons where having a teleconference with multiple laptops, on speaker, in study section. Guess there is a limit even in noisy libraries!

Re: Oodi, Helsinki’s new flagship library

#66

Post by smileypete »

billfruit wrote: post #49

I find the lack of subtlity in the architecture kind of off-putting, it is as if it wants to be in your face and grab you by your eyeballs. There is a quite grandeur in many building designs that subscribe to an austere concern for functionality.

You might like some of Rick Mather's projects:

http://www.rickmather.com/practice

Re: Oodi, Helsinki’s new flagship library

#67

Post by yason »

stevekemp wrote: post #40
yason wrote: post #14

Oodi is quite hideous from the outside: I haven't generally felt the appeal to walk towards the area. See for yourself: https://ibb.co/jkJ4h1B But Oodi is also not so much of a library than an indoor public space. That is probably fine and that I think is where libraries are going in general. However, being born decades ago it's libraries I like. I'll much rather find my "books and crannies" to spend some quality tim…

It does look much more attractive from the front though ..

If only you could figure out where the front is. To a pedestrian, it's mostly hundreds and hundreds of meters of desolate concrete wall to walk around the building.
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