Misplaced Pages

Tampere Central Library
Tampereen kaupungin pääkirjasto
61°29′54″N 23°45′03″E / 61.498207°N 23.750719°E / 61.498207; 23.750719
Location	Tampere, Finland
Type	Public library
Established	1986
Branch of	Tampere City Library

Tampere Central Library (Finnish: Tampereen kaupungin pääkirjasto) is the main municipal library in Tampere, Finland. It is also known as Metso ('Capercaillie'), due to its resemblance to the bird, when viewed from above. The library is located along the Hämeenpuisto boulevard in the city centre.

Facilities

In addition to the main lending collection, the library houses a reference section and information service, children's and young adults' sections, newspaper reading room, music section as well as a small performance stage. There are also meeting, project work and exhibition spaces, public computer terminals, as well as a cafeteria, Cafe Metso. The facilities are laid out over three floors.

For a quarter of a century, the building was also home to the city's Moomin Museum, until its move to new premises in 2012.

Building

The library was designed by architects Reima and Raili Pietilä in the organic architecture style. The design contest was held in 1978, with the Pietiläs' proposal Soidinmenot ('Lek mating') winning by unanimous decision. Inspired by the architects' visit to Ireland during the initial ideas phase, their design language was influenced by Celtic patterns, animal shapes and glacial formations.

The building exterior is made of granite, wiborgite, copper and glass.

Construction began in 1983, and the library opened to the public in August 1986.

A comprehensive renovation was carried out in 2015-2017, at a cost of over €11 million, to refurbish the facilities and bring them better in line with modern requirements.

Gallery

• Main entrance
• Northern elevation
• Eastern elevation
• Interior, post-2017 renovation

See also

• Helsinki Central Library Oodi

References

1. ^ "Pääkirjasto Metso" [Central Library Metso]. Tampere.fi (in Finnish). City of Tampere. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
2. ^ "Tampere City Library Metso". Discovering Finland. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
3. ^ "Pääkirjasto Metson remontti on nyt valmis: Tältä siellä nyt näyttää – kirjasto on pian auki myös sunnuntaisin" [Metso renovation complete: this is how things look now - library soon open also on Sundays] (in Finnish). Aamulehti. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
4. "Metso Floor Plan (PDF download)". Tampere.fi. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
5. "Moomin museum finds temporary home". Yle. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
6. Sokol, David (24 April 2008). "Breaking the Modernist Mold (interview of Raili Pietilä)". Metropolis. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
7. "The borrowers: why Finland's cities are havens for library lovers". The Guardian. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
8. "Finnish Modernism's 10 Must-sees". Visit Finland. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
9. "Metson remontti alkaa palveluista" [Metso renovation begins with services] (in Finnish). Yle. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2020.

Further reading

• Short article on the building's architecture

External links

• Official website (in Finnish)

v t e Tampere Cityscape
Buildings	City Hall Tampere Hall Market Hall Workers' Hall City Central Office Building Bus Station Central Station Central Library Central Hospital Central Police Station Central Fire Station Näsilinna Palace Commerce House
Places of worship	Tampere Cathedral Old Church Church of the Alexander Nevsky and the Saint Nicholas Baptist Church Alexander Church Kaleva Church Finlayson Church Holy Cross Church
Universities and colleges	Tampere University University of Tampere University of Applied Sciences Police University College Vocational College Tredu
Parks & gardens	Hämeenpuisto Eteläpuisto Koskipuisto Wilhelm von Nottbeck Park Pyynikki Hatanpää Arboretum Posteljooninpuisto
City squares	Central Square Tammelantori Sori Square Laukontori Väinö Linna Square
Tourist attractions	Särkänniemi Hatanpää Manor Hirvitalo Näsinneula Pyynikki observation tower
Hotels	Hotel Torni Hotel Tammer Hotel Ilves
Museums	Moomin Museum Vapriikki Museum Centre Finnish Ice Hockey Museum Finnish Museum of Games Natural History Museum Rupriikki Media Museum Milavida Museum Lenin Museum Spy Museum
Sport venues	Kauppi Stadium Nokia Arena Ratina Stadium Ice Stadium Tammelan Stadion
Performing arts	Theatres Tampere Theatre Comedy Theatre Workers' Theatre Pyynikki Summer Theatre Music venues Tampere Opera
Other venues	Tammerkoski Pispala Rajaportin sauna Hämeensilta Kalevankangas Cemetery Tampella Exhibition and Sports Centre Viikinsaari

• Libraries in Finland
• Buildings and structures in Tampere
• Modernist architecture in Finland
• Organic architecture
• Library buildings completed in 1986
• Libraries established in 1986