Kirjatalo – Academic Bookstore

Helsinki 2017 0.70 brm²

 

The “Kirjatalo” (‘Book House’) designed by Alvar Aalto and housing the Academic Bookstore was closely tied to the extensive construction projects of the adjacent Stockmann department store in the 2000s. A building history report was prepared to support the property owner’s decisions regarding future repairs and modifications. From 2002 to 2017, we served as the principal designer for the renovations of the Academic Bookstore, which were also related to the change in ownership of the bookstore. The building underwent repairs to its wooden windows, as well as comprehensive renovations of all office floors and the mezzanine level of the bookstore.

The building and its interiors are protected under the city plan. In 2015, the Alvar Aalto Foundation applied for protected status for the building based on the Act on the Protection of Built Heritage (498/2010). We acted as experts in the working group on protection issues and provided the requested reports related to the handling of the protection proposal. The conclusion was that the protection under the city plan is a sufficient measure. The repairs and modifications to the building and its interiors have strongly considered its historical and artistic values.

2002-2017
Architecture office Laatio (UKI Achitects)
Designers: Mats Klockars and Weikko Kotila