Fyyri, Kirkkonummi Main Library

The Fyyri library building in Kirkkonummi was completed in 2020. The original library, designed by Ola Hansson, has been retained and insightfully incorporated into Fyyri in its entirety. The copper-clad facades and white concrete, wood and glass interiors are unapologetically bold and have a sense of vivacity and momentum about them. Inside, a wealth of opportunities and resources await visitors.

The Fyyri library building in Kirkkonummi was completed in 2020. The principal designer was Teemu Kurkela for JKMM Arkkitehdit.

The new building envelopes the original library from 1982 designed by Ola Hansson. The original building has been retained in full and insightfully incorporated into Fyyri.

The new Fyyri is a complete reimagining of the library as a concept, both in terms of its aesthetic and its function. The copper-clad facades and white concrete, wood and glass interiors are unapologetically bold and have a sense of vivacity and momentum about them. In Finland, the public library is a venerable yet welcoming and user-focused institution. Fyyri does an excellent job of imagining what the next few decades might have in store for it.

The library is for everyone; all are welcome to pursue their interests here. And there is a wealth of opportunities for doing just that, with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, a music studio and rehearsal spaces available to visitors. There are more low-key activities, too, like sewing, storytelling and even just chilling.

The architecture here skilfully highlights the twin raison d’être of every library ever: books and reading. The book collection is housed in an east-facing space built using tall and slender concrete structures. The periodicals room and cafe with their low ceilings and horizontal lines take their cue from Kirkkonummi’s medieval church. The design engages in dialogue with the city’s other architectures, creating a truly memorable and satisfying urban space.

The main entrance to the library is located in a spot where the historic King’s Road, Finland’s medieval highway, bends. Fyyri marks an historic point on the local map, replacing Ola Hansson’s vision with a monumental and yet unpretentious public structure, a gateway towards knowledge and community. The building forges links with the past while radiating shared meanings for the future.