Tampere City Library-Pirkanmaa Regional Library, Tampere, Finland


  • Date
    5/31/2007 (creation)
Related people
John P. Schooley Jr. (was created by)
Raili Pietila (architect)
Description
In 1978, a competition was held for the design of a new main library in Tampere. The jury unanimously chose Raili and Reima Pietila's work "Mating Call". The architects said they had been influenced by various elements, such as Celtic ornaments, sheep horns, and glacial spin formations. The overall design theme involved the space coiling in a spiral, much like the shell of a snail. Increasingly, the building began to resemble a large game bird - capercaillie. In fact, the library is known under the Finnish name "Metso." Seen from above, the building looks like a bird carrying a shield. The Tampere City Library / Pirkanmaa Regional Library was completed in 1986. Its distinctive symbolism immediately broke new paths in Finnish contemporary architecture. Most of the challenging construction job was handiwork by the builders of the city engineering office. The facade materials are granite, copper and wiborgite. The roof and some of the window casements have been overlaid with copper. Concrete and granite are the principal materials inside the building. Information from: http://www.tampere.fi/kirjasto/english.htm This image was taken in 1996 by John Schooley, FAIA, during an architectural tour of Finland.
Style/Period
1980s (1980 - 1989)
Modern