After the renovation, Rikhardinkatu Library will have much more space for children and young people. It will be a place for getting together, events and activities. Furthermore, the library will provide a setting for concentration and relaxation, open to all, in the centre of Helsinki.
The overhauled library will contribute to the enlivening of the Helsinki city centre. In the future, it will be more widely known and even more outward-looking. Rikhardinkatu Library is also an interesting place for people from outside Helsinki.
In the coming years, the City of Helsinki will overhaul streets and buildings in the city centre, renovate event-related and other infrastructure, focus on improving housing and business conditions, and create an urban environment that invites people to enjoy themselves and come together. The renovation of Rikhardinkatu Library is part of this development.
Helsinki residents want the beloved library to be retained and improved
Residents of Helsinki were consulted before the planning process started. Many comments and wishes indicated warm appreciation for the current library. Residents wanted Rikhardinkatu Library to retain its atmosphere, but with a new variety of spaces and reading areas, as well as new activities and experiences. They also requested improvements to aspects such as lighting and the availability of electricity, as well as heating in winter and cooling in summer.
The library will remain open at least until spring 2027
According to the preliminary schedule, the renovation work will start in summer 2027 and the overhauled library will open its doors in early 2029. The schedule will be specified further as the planning progresses.
The renovation will upgrade the library’s building services and improve the accessibility, functionality and pleasantness of the premises while also respecting the history of the building. However, the renovation will not restore the library to its original appearance, as the building will continue to retain solutions from different eras. The City Museum plays an important role in the planning and monitoring of the renovation.
Charting options for temporary facilities
Potential temporary facilities for the duration of the renovation have been charted in the city centre. Discussions have been taken the furthest with Annantalo, which would provide space for services such as those of daycare centres and schools. Furthermore, the City is looking into the possibility of introducing new mobile library stops for the duration of the renovation to improve the accessibility of library services in the area.
Rikhardinkatu Library was originally completed in 1882
Rikhardinkatu Library has been enriching the lives of residents in the centre of Helsinki since 1882. Designed by architect Theodor Höijer (1881), the Neo-Renaissance library building is the first building in the Nordic countries designed to be a public library. Rikhardinkatu Library served as the main library of Helsinki until 1986.
Frequently asked questions:
The building will undergo a functional and technical renovation. The aim of the project is to improve the accessibility and functionality of the building while also respecting the original design and, in some cases, design solutions that have changed over time.
The possibility of covering the courtyard is being investigated (technical and architectural solution and its cost impact).
Only partial technical improvements were made in the last renovation. The lighting and IT systems of the property do not meet modern requirements. The project will involve replacing the heating and sewerage systems and improving ventilation. The acoustics of the building, the functionality of the facilities, access control and accessibility will all be improved.
The biggest change in the facility arrangements will have to do with the library courtyard, which is set to be covered and incorporated into activities. If the courtyard can be covered, it will improve the functionality and attractiveness of the library.
The project will increase the surface area of the facilities serving families, children and young people and cater to their specific needs better than before. The aim is also for the library to provide more space for serving families with children, not forgetting the need for quiet spaces. After the renovation, the oldest and most valuable facilities of the building will be entirely in customer use. The additional wing built in the 1950s will house staff offices
Partially. In the future, we will be able to serve more groups of children, as well as individual children, young people and families. As the accessibility of the building improves, we can better serve everyone. We will provide residents with more opportunities for active participation, e.g. with regard to facility usage and events.
There are many reasons. Promoting literacy is the library’s primary duty. The current facilities are far too small for the number and needs of children, and a larger building can provide much more space for them. The City’s aim is to develop services for children in the Helsinki city centre area, and we are actively involved in this development.
During the renovation, the services of daycare centres and schools will continue in temporary facilities. Potential other services will be announced later. The temporary facilities will be specified later.
Answer: According to the preliminary schedule, the renovation will start in summer 2027 and the overhauled library will open its doors in early 2029. The schedule will be specified further as the planning progresses.
The plans for the library building include facilities for a café and other cooperation partners.