Rikhardinkatu Library, Public library in Kaartinkaupunki, Helsinki, Finland.
Rikhardinkatu Library is a three-story Renaissance Revival building housing study areas, reading collections, and exhibition spaces. A white spiral staircase winds through its center and connects to a skylight above, which distributes natural light throughout the entire structure.
The building opened in 1882 and was the first purpose-built public library in the Nordic region, funded by the Helsinki Liquor Company. This early establishment marked a turning point in how northern European communities approached access to shared reading collections.
The library hosts rotating exhibitions from local artists across all three floors and maintains a specialized collection of 400 artist books. This dual focus on display and collection makes it a gathering place for those interested in contemporary creative work.
The library is easy to locate and provides comfortable study spaces on each floor with good natural light from the central skylight. An outdoor courtyard opens during summer months, offering visitors a pleasant outdoor area for breaks and fresh air.
The library's former card catalog system has been repurposed as a community exchange point where visitors can take or leave items. This creative reuse of an outdated library tool shows how traditional elements can serve new social functions in modern spaces.
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