The new main library of Seinäjoki was opened to public on the 20th of August 2012. The library was designed by JKMM Architects from Helsinki. The library is also the provincial library in Southern Ostrobothnia. There are almost 60 000 inhabitants in Seinäjoki and the city is large in surface area. Collections in the main library consist of 250 000 items.
There is a lot of design furniture, both Finnish and international design classics. For example the chairs in Jaaksi Hall are designed by American David Rowland and the rocking chairs are designed by Finnish Yrjö Kukkapuro.
Vuoden betonirakenne -palkinto 2012
Mies van der Rohe Award 2013 -nominee
The shape of the building resembles a clover, that’s why the library is called Clover.
The shape of the building has also been influenced by Japanese origami, there are for example a lot of sharp edges in the building. There is a lot of untreated concrete visible inside the building and as a contrast to the concrete there are a lot of white in the ceilings and the furniture is colourful.
As the old main library was designed by Alvar Aalto and the whole Aalto centre is an object for protection, there are strict rules on what kind of new buildings can be built in the surroundings. The new building couldn’t be too dominant over the Aalto centre or be in contradiction with the Aalto centre. On the other hand the architecture had to differ from the Alvar Aalto designs so that no one thinks the new library is also designed by Aalto.
The interior design is by interior decorator Päivi Meuronen. Her touch can be seen everywhere in the library: she has designed the fittings and chosen the furniture. Many items have been designed especially for this library. Päivi Meuronen has for example designed the book shelves and book houses.
