The new library building is harmoniously integrated into the cultural campus area, which holds within the Church Saint Laurentius, the Hall of Laurentius, the Music Academy of Länsi-Uusimaa and the Academy of Hiisi. The building is located on the eastern side of the competition area allowing the walking thru to the park.

The functions of the building are divided between two floors. Due to the proximity of the old church the library building was kept low, this was the main concept in the design. The public spaces in the first floor are spaciously widened with the help of different sized skylights.

The long walls of the building are of red brick. The inner spaces open through the gables towards the church and the centre. Proverbs from the Lohja area are printed on the glasses of these openings.

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Main library in Lohja

The town of Lohja is located in Southern Finland, some fifty kilometres from Helsinki. The population of the town is ca. 40 000. Although not granted town rights until 1969, Lohja was known as a trading port already in the Middle Ages. The main church in Lohja, the Church of St. Lawrence, is one of the notable Finnish Gothic churches from the 15th century.

The main library was built on the basis of an architectural competition. Its visual language with copper-clad conical rooflights and material choices represents international modernism. As a building mass the main library supports – through its spatial solution and external materials – the townscape in downtown Lohja. Cladding materials include red brick, copper and glass. 

The chosen materials and colours make the interior of the main library freshly modernistic. Copper has been used prudently to draw attention to interior details.