The heart of Kaisa House is a magnificent oval atrium that rises through the entire building. The curves of the atrium harmonise with the strong curved openings carved into the western elevation of the building. To accentuate the curves of the atrium, the white balconies on each floor seem to hang in the air like concentric cloud rings, drawing the eye upward.
The balcony walls are actually improving the acoustics of the space, creating a calm and quiet environment for library users. To achieve the smooth surface and curve they wanted, Anttinen Oiva Architects used Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic. Rockfon ceilings are also helping throughout the rest of the library, with Rockfon® Industrial™ Opal installed behind a stretch-metal mesh. From the moment it opened, “Lady Kaisa” won over the hearts and minds of the public, earning it the annual award of the Finnish critics’ association in the spring of 2012.
Kaisa House
Helsinki University Library
P.O Box 53
00014 University of Helsinki
Finland
