Branch Libray and Day Nursey for the suburb of Vallila

This suburban branch library and kindergarten is a masterpiece of Leiviskä's ability to balance intimacy with an impeccable sense of scale. It some how manages to be both suburban and village-like in character, achieving a conceptual perfection while also presenting familiarity of effect.

„As at Kouvola, the small-scale and informal spaces open on to the courtyard, which is the most important inner space, while the external configuration and scale are dictated by the environment. The site is part of 'Woden Vallila', a suburb that was constructed mostly in the 1910's, consisting of dwelling blocks surrounded by two-storey wooden tenements, characteristically enclosing a green courtyard that is often full of large trees. In this particular part of Vallila, many of the wooden buildings have been demolished, and my new intervention attempts to capture the original character of the area. The straight walls my buildings present to the street side are a modern equivalent of those old houses. The freely outlined structure is intended to maximize the connection between the interior and the courtyard.“