The literati’s heaven on earth
That magical place is the Academic Bookstore in the middle of Helsinki. Built in the 1960s, the Academic Bookstore is one of the works of the famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The two-level Academic Bookstore displays books in many languages. One of the Europe’s largest bookstore, it has a satisfying selection of Finnish and foreign authors, English-language books, travel guides, and even high-quality stationery items.
The size of the store’s stock - around 450 000 books - speaks for itself. There’s a range of international newspapers and an IT department if you’re missing some vital software. One whole section is devoted to books on Finland, its history, culture or nature and if you’re interested in Finnish language, you can also find many Finnish for foreigner publications. Opening days: everyday, opening hours: M-F 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-6pm
Architect: Alvar Aalto, often credited as the “father of modernism” in Scandinavia
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Date: 1962 to 1969
Building Type: retail, bookstore and offices
Construction System: copper-clad curtain wall with white marble inset
Context: urban
Style: Modern
