Extreme Ocularity Restaurant. Designed as a spatial sequence The new Central Library conception Helsinki Central Library with surprising transitions, each floor of the has been led by the requirements of the zero library presents connections from public spaces carbon building objective. At the earliest stage Helsinki, Finland such as Reading Platforms, Sunrooms and of design, environmental analysis via simulation the Observatory to Helsinki’s enduring icons. tools enabled design decisions that optimized With panoramic views of the city and Senate the sustainable performance of the building Jennifer Marmon, Matthew Young Square dome, the Observatory terminates the form and envelope. Platform for Architecture + Research promenade of escalators and staircases that dynamically rise through the building. The cityscape in all its variety—the idyllic Baltic Sea, the broad expanse of skyline dotted with A series of programmatic strips are stacked to spires and the urbanized plane of Töölönlahti create a narrow building that is optimal for the

Rain ACTIVE SLAB COOLING Collection was the incentive to design a building that con- Helsinki climate and library program. The strips SUMMER Vertical NATURAL VENTILATION MODE Duct 0° 45° centrates on the vertical. In contrast to the other feature 11.5 m deep plates that allow for flexi- Central Air Handling Unit buildings in the Töölönlahti District, an - bility in collections layout and maximize available Ground duct to Preconditions Air -LANDFILL- tial component of the design involved creating natural light, creating an ideal reading environ- a public space at the top of the library—visually ment crucial for the library. A superimpostion connectingdayligh t Töölönlahti to Senate Square and of the strips is extruded up to maximum height wind the city at large. generating a prismatic volume that contains a

daylight supply public void at the ground level. Along the plaza The libraryrelativ e isheating / corganizedooling high insulated roof by six intersecting axes is a multi-height atrium which opens up to the

lightwell solar protection Exhaust thatnatura l vaffordentilation ra isespectaculard floor vistas while creating a park and pedestrian pathway draws people into exhaust air ducting in external facade cavity Water Recycling Snow Collection variety of spatial configurations for the library’s the library. Integrated Solar Panelled Facade program. With its six floor levels each point- ing toward a celebrated landmark, the Central The landscape block is at the same time inte-

Connected to Sea Water Cooling Displacement (directly without chiller -18°C) Ventilation Radiant Active Tubing in Concrete Library becomes a symbolic center for city. grated and outstanding, traditional and con- Macro Airflow 60% Fly Ash Cement Diffused Daylight Bubble Concrete Deck Winter Public living rooms are located within the three temporary. It creates a stage-like space for the Shading

Natural Ventilation Natural Ventilation ATRIUM (Balcony) sloping peaks, the Reading Room, Sauna and annual gathering of the National Day of Finland. Displacement System Airflow Airflow

Ventilation Heat 100% Recycled Recovery Cross Ventilation Reinforcing Steel ACTIVE SLAB COOLING

LED Lighting Fixtures Facade Development

Black Water Natural-gas Fired Water Recycling Microturbine BIOGAS Cogeneration System

Spatial and Systems Strategies

Ecotect Analysis | Concave Paneled West Detail Elevation Senate Square 148m Baltic Sea Low Sun Angle

11.5m

148m

32m Organizzazione Concentrato Gallerie Varie Waste heat from process cooling (e.g. office’s computer center) is N Finlandia Hall Daylighting and Solar Heating Organizzazione Diffuse Rotazione Solare Töölönlahti Bay Materials and Embedded Energy going into the return of the district cooling system. During the heating Maximum Occupation Stacked Strips Landmark Axes Superimposition Deformation Toward Makasinii Park Increased Solar Access Views to Finlandia Hall Connections to Plaza and Street Ventilation Water Filtration Töölönlahti Bay Layout compatto ed efficiente riduce l'accesso alla luce season this return is used to feed a central absorption heat pump Migliorare esperienza del visitatore, tre tipi piccola galleria The building site is wedged into a dense context between the emblematic A series of programmatic strips are stacked to create a narrow building The library is organized by intersecting axes that increase view A superimpostion of the strips is extruded up to maximum height Deformation of the volumetry along the west reduce the building scale At the earliest stage of design, environmental analysis via simulation The library interacts with its surroundings, opening up to a park, pedestrian naturale e viste. Il piano inflessibile unificato non può Organizzazione diffusa mantiene la compattezza e Ruotando le gallerie di 20 gradi per un'ottimale (low temperatue level). The seasonal storage is used to lift the energy Toward Töölönlahti Bay along the Northwest, the facade contour opens fornire una varietà di spazi intimi di visualizzazione che architectures of ’s Finlandia Hall and Steven Holl’s that is optimal for the Helsinki climate and library program. The strips corridors and solar access while creating a variety of dynamic generating a tailored volumetry that envelopes diverse configurations toward the pedestrian plaza and while creating dyanmic western views tools enabled design decisions which optimize the performance of the pathway and street.Towards the park, the envelope is pushed up slightly to facilmente adattarsi a una futura espansione o aprire per l'efficienza, massimizzando luce naturale e viste. Flessibilità orientamento solare consente auspicabile Northern Light potential on the hot water supply temperature level (80ºC). from upper floors. building form and envelope. Roofline deformations increase solar access up views to Finlandia Hall, the Bay and Olympic Stadium. completano la collezione permanente del museo di opere Museum. The site connects the road to Makasinii Park on axis with the feature 11.5 m deep floor plans that allow for flexibility in library layout configurations for the library’s program. With it’s six floor levels each in space which are ideal for the varied requirements of the library. create a canopy above the main entrance. Along the east, the envelope is l'ambiente. intrinseca del piano si adatta facilmente a una futura per illuminare naturalmente gli spazi espositivi. for the public programs on upper floor. pushed up to create shelter for the streetside cafe and 24 hour entrance. d'arte piccole e medie dimensioni. Finnish Parliament House. and maximize available natural light, creating an ideal reading pointing toward a celebrated Helsinki landmark, the Central Library espansione, mentre l'apertura si collega con il museo The district energy systems allow for using several renewable environment crucial for the library. becomes a symbolic center for the city. On the west facade, a double skin will provide a thermal Water conservation measures to minimize consumption: esistente e sito archeologico. The use of a natural-gas fired microturbine sources to cover the heating demand. Process or waste heat by ships buffer to help retain heat within the building. The facade also - Grey water reuse (on the spot, for garden vegetation) Environmental Analysis Performance Parameters Picture Windows cogeneration system will generate is available all year. The winter period is characterized by low Concave Solar Collectors extends into the basement to help bring daylight into the - Irrigation-free landscaping and green roofs To best ventilate the structure, the facade will be closed in electricity and heating for the building, with a 52% reduction temperatures and low solar irradiation for about 3 to 4 months. spaces below. - Avoidance of water use for cooling tower through selection the winter and be opened in the summer to bring fresh air over a typical Helsinki building performance. The Therefore the heating demandA variest theover the seasonearliest significantly, stage of design, envi- Taking a holistic approach, we propose Concave panel profiles act as mini solar The library interior is designed as into the space. The benefit of extending the facade below of geothermal system - Waterless or low-flow sanitary fixtures microturbine could also be configured to run on bio-gas to Adding a seasonal storage to the energy supply system provides the grade, is to bring in fresh air at a low level. Heat is radiated potential for optimizing the ratioronmental of renewable used, Evenanalysis the via simulation tools a framework of performative design a spatial sequence with surprising - Snow, melted by heated gutter system, and rain water for transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. collectors across the library’s facade. Integrated Senate Square Photovoltaic through a raised floor displacement ventilation system. efficiency of the combined heat and power production facility is Gallerie Varie 148m Baltic Sea outdoor water features Low Sun Angle Snow Collection Perimeter throughs within the raised floor will conceal linear optimized by providing a heat sink in summer. Synergies between District Cooling and Heating Systems - Grey/ snow water for remaining irrigation purposes The structure is made with 60% fly ash cement replacement enabled design decisions that optimized criteria based on program requirements The concave geometry optically magni- transitions and views of Töölönlahti and hydronic radiators to provide perimeter heating. concerete bubble deck and 100% recycled reinforcing steel. Migliorare esperienza del visitatore, tre tipi piccola galleria Drop Off LED lighting fixtures and occupancy sensors used the sustainable performance of the fornire(reading, una varietà di spaziarchiving intimi di visualizzazione and che views) and 11.5mStreet Helsinki landmarks. Anthropometrically throughout the building, balanced with daylight, reduces the fies light and heat, focusing it into the completano la collezione148m permanente del museo di opere Plaza use of energy and light pollution. building form and envelope. Subtractions d'arteenvironmental piccole e medie dimensioni. factors (solar access/ building which reduces energy demand scaled 2m high windows act as frames, Light Well 32m

within the roofline increased solar heat loss). Within this framework, a mix Water celebrating the city by offering unparal- Waste heat from process cooling (e.g. office’s computer while creating dynamic illumination. Recycling N Finlandia Hall center) is going into the return of the district cooling system. Folded Ground Töölönlahti Bay Performative Roof Sunrooms Cores Plates Escalators Internal Structure External Structure access for upper floor public programs Duringof Maximumtriple the heating Occupationglazed season this return and is used thermally to feed a insulated Stacked Strips leledLandmark views Axes through the framing of the Superimposition Deformation Toward Makasinii Park Increased Solar Access Views to Finlandia Hall Connections to Plaza and Street A recycled steel braced frame on an 18m grid functions as an exoskeleton Integrated solar panels and snow/rain water capture are elements of a Positioned as interstitial spaces between inside and out, Sunrooms Three structural cores integrate elevators, emergency egress stairs Rotated plates composed of recycled concrete bubble deck incorporate The continuous spiral of circulationTöölönlahti is expressed Bay clearly as elements of A long-spanning truss system integrates with the library’s raised floor central absorption heat pump (low temperatue level). The A folded ground plane leads from the outside in transforming itself into a with the flexibility to mediate between the rotated geometry of the floor The building site is wedged into a dense context between the emblematic A series of programmatic strips are stacked to create a narrow building comprehensiveThe library is sustainability organized by strategyintersecting that axes aims that to meet increase the library’s view zero areA protected superimpostion from the of harshthe strips Helsinki is extruded climate. up Oriented to maximum toward height sky andDeformation mechanical of the risers. volumetry Mechanical along therooms west are reduce located the at building the top scale of high Atperformance the earliest raised stage floor of design, displacement environmental ventilation analysis system. via simulation the plates twisting between floors. Connecting the lobby to the system.The library This interacts extremely with efficient its surroundings, solution, provides opening flexible, up to a park,column pedestrian free while the volumetry along the west seasonalpanels storage is used performativelyto lift the energy potential on the distributedpublic living room, drawing people into the library. library. Toward Töölönlahti Bay along the Northwest, the facade contour opens plates with structural efficiency. architectures of Alvar Aalto’s Finlandia Hall and Steven Holl’s Kiasma that is optimal for the Helsinki climate and library program. The strips carboncorridors objective. and solar access while creating a variety of dynamic andgenerating vistas Sunrooms a tailored offer volumetry unparalleled that envelopesevent spaces diverse for all configurations season. eachtoward core, the onepedestrian to service plaza each and zone while of creating the building. dyanmic western views tools enabled design decisions which optimize the performance of the restaurant, reading room and sauna on level 5. Stairs within cores provide floorpathway plans and while street.Towards seamlessly integratingthe park, the in-plenum envelope building is pushed services. up slightly The to Museum. The site connectshot water the supply road temperatureto Makasinii levelPark (80on ºaxisC). with the feature 11.5 m deep floor plans that allow for flexibility in library layout configurations for the library’s program. With it’s six floor levels each in space which are ideal for the varied requirements of the library. from upper floors. building form and envelope. Roofline deformations increase solar access emergencyup views egress.to Finlandia Hall, the Bay and Olympic Stadium. trussescreate a span canopy between above recycledthe main steel entrance. I-beams Along which the tie east, into the the envelope external is orients surfaces to capture daylight.Finnish Parliament House.across the envelope. This environmenand maximize- available natural light, creating an ideal reading pointing toward a celebrated Helsinki landmark, the Central Library for the public programs on upper floor. structurepushed up on to an create 18m shelter grid. for the streetside cafe and 24 hour entrance. environment crucial for the library. becomes a symbolic center for the city. tally responsive approach aims to re- duce heat loss in Helsinki’s cold climate Solar Access

Integrated Integrated Photovoltaic while providing sufficient transparency Photovoltaic Snow Collection Accumulated solar gains in [kWh/m2] Snow Collection

Drop Off for daylight and view access. Within a suggest the greatest solar access on Drop Off

Street Street Plaza multitude of possibilities, an initial the west elevation and roof. The library’s Plaza Light Well ratio of 60% thermal/40% glazed is outer contours were designed to scoop Light Well Water Water Recycling represented. Recycling Folded Ground Performative Roof Sunrooms Cores light fromPlates Helsinki’s low sun angles dur- Escalators Internal Structure ExternalFolded Ground Structure Performative Roof Sunrooms Cores Plates Escalators Internal Structure External Structure A recycled steel braced frame on an 18m grid functions as an exoskeleton A recycled steel braced frame on an 18m grid functions as an exoskeleton Rotated plates composed of recycled concrete bubble deck incorporate The continuous spiral of circulation is expressed clearly as elements of A long-spanning truss system integrates with the library’s raised floor Rotated plates composed of recycled concrete bubble deck incorporate The continuous spiral of circulation is expressed clearly as elements of A long-spanning truss system integrates with the library’s raised floor A folded ground plane leads from the outside in transforming itself into a Integrated solar panels and snow/rain water capture are elements of a Positioned as interstitial spaces between inside and out, Sunrooms Three structural cores integrate elevators, emergency egress stairs A foldedwith the ground flexibility plane to mediateleads from between the outside the rotated in transforming geometry of itself the floor into a Integrated solar panels and snow/rain water capture are elements of a Positioned as interstitial spaces between inside and out, Sunrooms Three structural cores integrate elevators, emergency egress stairs with the flexibility to mediate between the rotated geometry of the floor high performance raiseding floor the displacement winter ventilation with system. rising sun anglesthe plates in twisting between floors. Connecting the lobby to the system. This extremely efficient solution, provides flexible, column free high performance raised floor displacement ventilation system. the plates twisting between floors. Connecting the lobby to the system. This extremely efficient solution, provides flexible, column free public living room, drawing people into the library. comprehensive sustainability strategy that aims to meet the library’s zero are protected from the harsh Helsinki climate. Oriented toward sky and mechanical risers. Mechanical rooms are located at the top of publicplates living with room, structural drawing efficiency. people into the library. comprehensive sustainability strategy that aims to meet the library’s zero are protected from the harsh Helsinki climate. Oriented toward sky and mechanical risers. Mechanical rooms are located at the top of plates with structural efficiency. carbon objective. and vistas Sunrooms offer unparalleled event spaces for all season. each core, one to service each zone of the building. restaurant, reading room and sauna on level 5. Stairs within cores provide floor plans while seamlessly integrating in-plenum building services. The carbon objective. and vistas Sunrooms offer unparalleled event spaces for all season. each core, one to service each zone of the building. restaurant, reading room and sauna on level 5. Stairs within cores provide floor plans while seamlessly integrating in-plenum building services. The the SE and setting sun in the SW alongemergency a egress. trusses span between recycled steel I-beams which tie into the external emergency egress. trusses span between recycled steel I-beams which tie into the external structure on an 18m grid. structure on an 18m grid. 35° rotation against the N-S-axis.

32 New Constellations New Ecologies 101_2: Energy Circuits+Artificial Ecologies 33