Helsinki Projects 12 Created 30-Jun-10 By Veronika Kovacsova, Amsterdam, Netherlands Turku Central Library Turku, JKMM s library Sakarinmäki School KIASMA Museum of Contemporary Art Viikki Church 4 Parliament Annexe Helsinki, Helin & Co s government 8 Finnish Pavilion for the Venice Biennale 9 Temppeliaukio Church 10 Helsinki, Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen church 5 ia Hall 11 Helsinki, congress centre 6 Viikki, JKMM s church, religion The Aalto House Venice, Italy pavilion Turku, Sanaksenaho s chapel, exposition space 3 Helsinki, Steven Holl culture, exposition space, museum St Henry's ecumenical art chapel Helsinki, museum, private house Sipoo, Sari Nieminen community centre, kindergarten, primary school 2 Studio 12 Helsinki, atelier, museum 7 Public Attic 13 Helsinki, Casagrande Laboratory community centre, pavilion http://wwwmimoaeu/users/veroni/guides/helsinki/ 1
Turku Central Library Linnankatu 2 20100 Turku http://wwwturkufi/library Turku used to be the number one town in until 1809 when Helsinki was made the capital city After the passing of the Scandinavian Classicists and the early functionalist architects and Erik Bryggmann, the city was best known for its eagerness to tear down older buildings and replace them with structures commissioned by friends of local politicians and bankers But recently Turku's name has once again begun to appear in association with quality architecture like the new city library The new extension was built alongside the old baroque-inspired building On the upper level is the central book hall, with in situ cast concrete ceiling and slender columns Dominating the whole is European oak, which has been used for wall panelling, built-in furniture and bookcases Contrasting nicely with this is the red, pre-cast concrete spiral staircase connecting the central book hall with the next level 2007 JKMM s City of Turku Tarja_Nurmi Mon-Friday: 10-20 Saturday: 10-16 Sunday: 12-18:00 h http://wwwmimoaeu/users/veroni/guides/helsinki/ 2
Sakarinmäki School Knutersintie 924 01100 Sipoo http://sakarinmakiedusipooinstituuttinet/ The new Sakarinmäki School in Sipoo, just east of Helsinki, houses educational spaces for school children at all levels of primary education, as well as a congregational centre and day care urally the school is thoroughly contemporary and yet it also has a certain rural character The colours -shades of red, brown, yellow and grey- are reminiscent of traditional Finnish wooden houses and stately manors Seen from the main road it looks as if it has been there for a long time The Sakarinmäki School design is based on the idea of arranging the different units as a village, with streets and alleys between the volumes All the different units have lightweight façades clad with fine vertical or horizontal wood panelling, and each unit has its own colour which extends to the internal 'piazza' Among many new and highly praised school buildings in this modestly sized newcomer belongs to the most sympathetic It stands alone in the landscape but is like a village itself Public access unknown! Floor area/size 2005 5700 m² Main designer, Sari Nieminen SAFA Sipoo Commune Tarja_Nurmi http://wwwmimoaeu/users/veroni/guides/helsinki/ 3
photo: David Uró Vilanova photo: David Uró Vilanova KIASMA Museum of Contemporary Art Mannerheiminaukio 2 00100 Helsinki http://wwwkiasmafi/ Kiasma lies in the heart of Helsinki at the foot of the Parliament building, with Saarinen's Helsinki Station on the eastside and Aalto's ia Hall on the north The concept intertwines the building's mass with the geometry of the city and landscape An implicit cultural line curves to link the building to ia Hall, similarly engaging a natural line connecting the adjacent landscape and Töölo Bay Asymmetrical in design, the museum is a slightly warped gallery of rooms Curved sequences provide mystery and surprise The visitor is confronted with a continuously changing perspective, connecting the internal and overall concept of intertwining Variation in room shape and size due to the gently curving building section allows the 25 galleries to be naturally lit, taking advantage of Helsinki's horizontal light 1998 Steven Holl Ministry of Public Building duv_ photo: David Uró Vilanova Tue: 10 am-5 pm, Wed-Sun: 10 am-830 pm, http://wwwmimoaeu/users/veroni/guides/helsinki/ 4
photo: Toni Torrent i Del Rio photo: Francesc Olivé Olesti St Henry's ecumenical art chapel Seiskarinkatu 35 20900 Turku http://wwwhenrikinfi/kappeli/ The chapel is placed in the landscape like religious buildings traditionally were The shape of the building follows the contours of the site The gradually forming green patina of the copper cladding blends in with the color of the pine trees Amidst the buildings of an activity center, the chapel resembles an old village church One walks from darkness towards light from a hidden source The elongated nave is organized in two parts, the chapel in the front part and the gallery at the back The visitor can study the works of art during the service The chapel is constructed like an upturned boat The load bearing structure consists of tapering ribs made of laminated pine Rising at two-meters intervals, they give the building a natural, organic form In the course of time, natural light will turn the tone of the timber to a reddish color The chapel's patinated altar is the last public work of Kain Tapper The altar window is a work by artist Hannu Konola Floor area/size 2005 300 m² Structural engineer Sanaksenaho s Kalevi Narmala St Henry's ecumenical art chapel duv_ photo: Jussi Tiainen Monday till Friday: 11-16; Thursday: 11-1830; Saturday and Sunday: 12-15 http://wwwmimoaeu/users/veroni/guides/helsinki/ 5
photo: Jussi Tiainen Viikki Church Agronominkatu 5 00790 Viikki has recently seen a revival of timber architecture in churches A new addition to this genre is the Viikki Church, distinguished by the quality of its interiors, atmosphere and details On the outside, the upper part of the building housing the church spaces, is clad with thick aspen shingles which will turn grey over time The only indication of its religious identity is a stubby belltower and slender, barely noticeable metal cross The lower, recreational section is generously windowed and clad with boards The most exciting internal spaces are of course the religious ones which can be combined by opening the sliding doors dividing them The church halls have windows about 2m high overlooking the landscape and a small garden, but the overall appearance, appropriately for a space of worship, is closed and inward-looking The most striking features of these spaces are the wall construction and the ceiling, vaguely reminiscing Nordic Christmas decorations made of straw photo: Jussi Tiainen 2005 Artist JKMM s Antti Tanttu Parish of Helsinki Tarja_Nurmi http://wwwmimoaeu/users/veroni/guides/helsinki/ 6
photo: Voitto Niemelä photo: Voitto Niemelä Parliament Annexe Arkadiankatu 3 00102 Helsinki http://wwweduskuntafi The red-granite Parliament House designed by JS Sirén and completed in 1931, is a familiar landmark for visitors to Helsinki When the old premises could no longer meet the need of the day, additional space was found on a patch of parkland next to the Parliament House, although separated from it by a road An international competition was launched in 1998, and won by Helin & Co s The annexe is divided into two distinct sections: a triangular, higher mass located by the roadside, and a low, curved wing Between these sections lies a semicircular atrium the height of the entire building, bringing light into the heart of the exceptionally deep plan The façade of the triangular section was originally intended to be glazed, but this had to be exchanged for burnt-clay brick for reasons of city scaping and security concerns In contrast, the curved section has a glazed double façade, to emphasize the open nature of Nordic democracy and its links with the public photo: Voitto Niemelä 2004 Helin & Co s The Finnish Parliament Anne_Veinola The ground floor of the triangular section contains facilities open to the public: a bookshop, a café and an information office Guided tours: Saturdays 11 am and 12:30 noon, Sundays 12 noon and 13:30 pm http://wwwmimoaeu/users/veroni/guides/helsinki/ 7
photo: Filipe Brandão The Aalto House Riihitie 20 00330 Helsinki http://wwwalvaraaltofi/ In 1934, Aino and Alvar acquired a site in almost completely untouched surroundings at Riihitie in Munkkiniemi The house was designed as both a family home and an office The slender mass of the office wing is in white-painted, lightly rendered brickwork The cladding material of the residential part is slender, dark-stained timber battens It has a flat roof and a large south-facing terrace Although the street elevation is severe and closed-off, it's softened by climbing plants and a slate path There are already signs of the 'new' Aalto, the Romantic Functionalist The plentiful use of wood as a finishing material and 4 open hearts built in brick also point to this It anticipates the 2-year younger Villa Mairea, a luxury residence where Aalto's creativity was able to come into full bloom But in contrast to its larger sister, the Aalto House is a cosy, intimate building for living and working, designed by two architects for themselves, using simple uncluttered materials photo: Filipe Brandão 8-1936 filipeb The Aalto House is open in December and January only by agreement Winter time (October 1 - November 30 and February 1 - April 31) Tuesday to Sunday, guided tours at 1400, 1500, 1600 and 1700 Summer time (May 1 - July 31 and September 1-31) Tuesday to Sunday, guided tours at 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600 and 1700 In August 2008 open from Monday to Sunday 12-18 Max 20 people at one time enquiries and reservations: tel +358 (0)9 481 350 http://wwwmimoaeu/users/veroni/guides/helsinki/ 8
photo: Addison Godel photo: Addison Godel Finnish Pavilion for the Venice Biennale Giardini Pubblici 30122 Venice Italy In 1955 Maire Gullichsen of the Contemporary Art Association of Helsinki charges with the design of a temporary pavilion for, while waiting for a Nordic Countries Pavilion The concept behind the project, as Aalto once said, is something in between a Sámi tent, the transportable Altar of private Swejk and the Chapel Pazzi In 1956 the building is ready to be shipped in pieces from Helsinki The blue and white wooden structure, that was supposed to be temporary, has become over time an icon of the Biennale pavilions photo: Addison Godel 8-1956 lmattozz Get off at the Giardini boat station and walk towards the Biennale entrance http://wwwmimoaeu/users/veroni/guides/helsinki/ 9
photo: Piotr Krajewski photo: Piotr Krajewski Temppeliaukio Church Lutherinkatu 3 00100 Helsinki Temppeliaukio Church is a Lutheran church in the Töölö neighbourhood of Helsinki The Temppeliaukio (Temple square) was selected as a location for a church in the 1930s, but the plan by J S Siren, the winner of two competitions to design the church, was interrupted in its early stages because of WWII After the war, there was another architectural competition, which was won by Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen in 1961 For economic reasons, the suggested plan was scaled back and the interior space of the church reduced by about one-quarter of the original plan Construction finally began in February of 1968, and the rock temple was completed for consecration in 1969 The interior was excavated and built into the rock, but is bathed in natural light entering through the glazed dome The church is used frequently as a concert venue due to its excellent acoustics photo: Piotr Krajewski 8-1969 Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen pkrajewski_pl Monday & Tuesday: 1000-2000 (in winter: Tuesday: 1000 12:45 & 1530-1800) / Wednesday: 1000-1830 / Thursday & Friday: 1000-2000 / Saturday: 1000-1800 / Sunday: 11:45 1345 & 1530-1800 / Closed during religious services http://wwwmimoaeu/users/veroni/guides/helsinki/ 10
photo: Nazar Leskiw photo: Nazar Leskiw ia Hall Mannerheimintie 13 00100 Helsinki http://wwwfinlandiatalofi/en/ ia Hall is the leading congress and concert venue in Helsinki Centrally located in park-like surroundings, ia Hall is ideal for conferences, concerts and exhibitions, as well as smaller meetings, concerts and light entertainment ia Hall has hosted numerous international congresses and other events over the yearsthere's simply no other conference venue like it in A masterpiece by the great Finnish architect, ia Hall is worth a visit in its own right, and is visited by thousands of people a year from all over the world photo: Nazar Leskiw 1975 gonzalezdioslydia Open from Monday through Friday 8-17 Entrance fee (guided tour) EUR 6/adults, EUR 4/children, students, seniors Group tours enquiries Tel +358-(0)9-402 4211 Fax +358 (0)9 4024 249, palvelupiste (at) finlandiatalofi http://wwwmimoaeu/users/veroni/guides/helsinki/ 11
photo: Lydia Gonzalez Dios photo: Lydia Gonzalez Dios Studio Tiilimäki 20 00330 Helsinki http://wwwalvaraaltofi/info/studioaaltohtm designed the building as his own office in 1955 Because of a number of large commissions, the office needed more space to work in The building is only a short walk from Aalto's own house, where the office had previously been located Studio Aalto is one of the best of 's 1950s buildings The white-rendered, wall-like, closed-in mass of the building conceals a garden shaped like an amphitheatre in its inner courtyard The office staff could sit on the slate steps of the amphitheatre, listen to lectures or watch slide shows projected on the white wall The principal space in the building is the curving studio which has a view opening onto the courtyard Horizontal battens fixed to the high walls of the studio allowed drawings to be displayed there The rear wall is covered with climbing plants reaching up to the high-level windows and prototypes of light fittings designed by are hung in front of the wall The slanting bay window of the conference room photo: Rauno Träskelin // Foundation 1955 gonzalezdioslydia Visits: Tuesday to Friday onlyat 1230pm 2009: Open only at 1130 from Tuesday-Sunday In August open at 1130 from Monday-Sunday Admission fee 17 Euro Students and senior citizens 7 Euro Groups of over 10 persons 10 Euro per person The admission fee includes guided tour Groups preferred to be agreed in advance, max20 people at one time http://wwwalvaraaltofi/info/guide/helsinkihtm Directions Tram 4 from Helsinki; north on Mannerheimintie street to last stop at Munkkiniemi (approx 30 min ride from the tram stop at the SOKOS department store) Walk west one block on Laajalahdentie, after sports field turn right on Riihitie http://wwwmimoaeu/users/veroni/guides/helsinki/ 12
photo: Yehia Eweis photo: Yehia Eweis Public Attic Mannerheimintie 31 00100 Helsinki This project, A Public Attic for Helsinki, was part of the Helsinki Festival in 2004 and faced the Parliament of All the materials used were recycled from various construction sites in Helsinki This way, it was a temporary collage of material streams produced by the city A city can have an attic, a public attic to reflect the collective subconscious During the festival, people were bringing objects to the Public Attic and exchanged them for free This way, the building became a small, spontaneous community centre and a form of improvised architecture All the objects are tied to stories This way, the attic is also a narrative space For the construction of the Public Attic a team from the Bauhaus University, consisting of Christian Edlinger, Dirk Schultz and Daniel Guishardt, was essential The attic was demolished after the festival photo: Yehia Eweis Floor area/size 7-2004 40 m² Casagrande Laboratory Helsinki Festival Casagrande The Public Attic was demolished after the Helsinki Festival in 2004 http://wwwmimoaeu/users/veroni/guides/helsinki/ 13