Rovaniemi Library
{{short description|Library in Finland}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox library
| native_name = Rovaniemen kaupunginkirjaston pääkirjasto
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| image = Rovaniemi kirjasto.jpg
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| country = Finland
| type = Public library
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| established = 1860; current building 1965
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| location = Rovaniemi
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| coordinates = {{coord|66.496537|25.722138|display=inline,title}}
| branch_of = Rovaniemi City Library
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Rovaniemi Library is the main municipal public library of the city of Rovaniemi, Finland. The library building is notable for having been designed by the renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.
History
The Rovaniemi public library dates back to 1860.{{cite web |title=Library |url=https://international.rovaniemi.fi/en/Services/Cultural-Services/Library |website=Rovaniemi.fi |publisher=City of Rovaniemi |accessdate=6 October 2020}}
The building where the library used to operate was, along with up to 90% of Rovaniemi's building stock, destroyed during the Lapland War by the retreating German forces, necessitating the rebuilding of the city centre.{{cite web |last1=Pohjola |first1=Aleksi |title=Alvar Aallon Rovaniemi |url=http://lapinylioppilaslehti.fi/2016/04/07/alvar-aallon-rovaniemi/ |website=LapinYlioppilasLehti.fi |publisher=University of Lapland Student Union |accessdate=6 October 2020 |language=fi}} In January 1945, Rovaniemi commissioned a new urban design from the Finnish Association of Architects rebuilding unit, with the design work headed by Aalto.
Aalto's eventual design, approved in 1946, is called Poronsarvikaava (literally, "Reindeer Antler Plan"), and incorporates five arterial roads forming the shape of a reindeer antler.{{cite web |title=Jälleenrakennuskaava (Rebuilding plan) |url=http://lapinkavijat.rovaniemi.fi/aalto/jkaava.html |website=Rovaniemi.fi |publisher=City of Rovaniemi |accessdate=6 October 2020 |language=fi}} At the centre of the plan, a complex of Aalto-designed public and administrative buildings, commonly referred to as 'Aalto Centre', comprises the Lappia Hall arts and conference venue and the Rovaniemi city hall alongside the library. The complex has been designated and protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency as a nationally important built cultural environment (Valtakunnallisesti merkittävä rakennettu kulttuuriympäristö).{{cite web |title=Rovaniemen hallinto- ja kulttuurikeskus (Rovaniemi administrative and cultural centre) |url=http://www.rky.fi/read/asp/r_kohde_det.aspx?KOHDE_ID=2155 |website=RKY.fi |publisher=Finnish Heritage Agency |accessdate=6 October 2020 |language=fi}}
Architecture
The overall layout of the building consists of a long, rectangular office wing, and a central, fan-shaped area housing the main lending section and reading areas.{{cite web |title=Rovaniemi Library and City Hall |url=https://visit.alvaraalto.fi/en/destinations/rovaniemi-city-library-and-town-hall/ |website=AlvarAalto.fi |accessdate=6 October 2020}} The reading areas are situated in a lower-level, recessed 'reading well', a signature feature of many of Aalto's library designs.{{cite web |title=Architecture |url=http://arkkitehtuuri.rovaniemi.fi/eng/index.htm |website=Rovaniemi.fi |publisher=City of Rovaniemi |accessdate=6 October 2020}} The fan-shaped section has extensive roof lights designed to allow the maximum amount of natural daylight to enter the building, especially falling on the bookshelves positioned along the interior walls.
Much of the public areas is furnished with light fixtures and furniture by Aalto's own furniture and interior design company, Artek.
The exterior roof is clad with copper plates.{{cite news |title=Kirjasto aloittaa Aalto-remontit Rovaniemellä |trans-title=Library begins Rovaniemi's Aalto-renovations |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-6440762 |accessdate=6 October 2020 |publisher=Yle |date=7 January 2013 |language=fi}}
See also
{{Portal|Finland}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official site|url=https://international.rovaniemi.fi/en/Services/Cultural-Services/Library}}
- [http://arkkitehtuuri.rovaniemi.fi/eng/index.htm Lapland Regional Library website with images and floorplans]
- [https://visit.alvaraalto.fi/en/destinations/rovaniemi-city-library-and-town-hall/ Rovaniemi library on Alvar Aalto Foundation website]
Category:Alvar Aalto buildings
Category:Modernist architecture in Finland
Category:Library buildings completed in 1965