The walk continues. I am passing through Hämeenpuisto. Downtown is made of blockhouses and perpendicular streets. Very rational. Very geometrical. It must have had many wooden builds in the past, but they have all been torn down in the 1970s when modernism dictated these blockhouses.
I also detect a change in my mood. It is as if I suddenly realise the grey clouds—the grey light. The snow is melting rapidly. There are Piles of old snow mixed with gravel at street corners. I can feel the light rain and keep the lens of my camera downwards to protect the glass. It is a bit gloomy.
Extract: The Metso library was completed in 1986, and both Finnish and international tourists will surely find its unique architecture interesting. The building, designed by the architect couple Railiand Reima Pietilä, represents organic architecture and it resembles a courting wood grouse from above. (The name of the library, Metso, means “wood grouse” in Finnish.) The architectural artwork is designed down to the door handles.
The main library Metso was renovated in 2015-2017. The renovation respected the original appearance of the building: Metso’s earthy colour palette and round design were preserved, and many original furniture was refurbished. At the same time, however, the facilities were adapted to meet today’s needs, such as organising events and urban office-style work. The number of book shelves was reduced in order to make the space seem more open, increase natural light and clarify passages. The architect for the basic renovation was Marko Suutarla (Arkkitehtitoimisto Forssi Oy).
How many R-Kisoki (Convenience stores) are there in Tampere? I do not know. Many. This man was standing in front of one fo them. His hands relaxed behind his back. He had time. I might have been waiting for someone who was inside. He might have thought about whether to go in or not.
19-16-16-14…, Tampere 2023
Towards the centre, there is an area with several Asian supermarkets. They provide a great alternative to Finnish/European food. They seem to me as community centres where foreigners from the Middle East and Asia gather and share the latest about their life in Finland and from back home.
After some time I went back to the city centre with my camera. I started in Pyynikki and walked towards the centre. My idea was to walk for 45 minutes. take photos and then select 14 photos that I will post over the next 7 days.
I did don’t pick a theme this time and ended up with a mix between buildings/architecture and people.
Here the first two photos
Grilli, Tampere 2023
I need to find out how many grilli are left in Tampere. I remember reading some time ago that they are now less than 10. They used to be the go-to place for an evening snack late at night, especially on weekends. This one in Pyynikki is still standing.
Lyset, Tampere 2023
Pyynikki is also where the main Lyseo (liceo / high school) of Tampere. An imposing building with a curved facade.
A design competition in 2012 to build the library was won by the Finnish architectural firm ALA Architects and structural design by Ramboll Finland. ALA Architects won the commission over 543 other competitors. The library was planned to be a three-story building . In January 2015, the Helsinki City Council voted 75–8 to launch the building project. The estimated cost of the new library was €98 million, of which the state agreed to pay €30 million in connection with the centenary of Finland’s independence in 2017. The City of Helsinki budgeted €66 million for the building.
On December 31, 2016, it was announced that the new library would be named Oodi in Finnish and Ode in Swedish. The name was selected from a pool of 1,600 names proposed by the public. According to Helsinki Deputy City Director Ritva Viljanen, “Oodi” was chosen because it’s easy to remember, easy to say, and easy to translate. The selection jury did not want to name the new library after a person.
