>>>nature loving, the finns lead a modest life, preferring quiet and comfortable settings, embracing rather than hiding away from their harsh climate. they have without doubt established a strong tradition in modernism and continues to employ and evolve the movement without hesitation, a strong sign of their optimism and courage in adopting and adapting the modern way of life. young designers there have plenty of room for experimentation, although their father of modern finnish architecture, alvar aalto, is a force difficult to diffuse easily. details are treated with extreme care and precision, right down to the door handle, and the sp irit and legacy of alvar aalto lives on in the minds of many finns. this is a nation where architecture is perceived as a crucial and significant player in shaping the social environments in which the finns live in. it is an industry regarded with the same prestige as nokia and the telecommunications sector. this is definitely one country that we as fresh grads/students should check out...>>> highlights>>> villa mairea, smoke saunas, nokia research centre, kiasma art museum, rock church, the turn of the century elevator in the tubercolosis hospital!
>>> you're free to use any of the pictures except the ones with me in it!
helsinki railway station: trains departing for russia!
design forum: leading newspaper headquarters
exposed mechanism of elevators- atrium space
double glass facades
kiasma museum of modern art- steven holl
his sculptural circulation spaces, like a watercolor
sculptural spiral staircases
tapiola cultural centre- tapiola is one of the pioneering suburban towns of the postware period
high standards of living- middle class housing district near tapiola
kulturhus [culture house] by alvar aalto- auditorium, lighting and acoustic effects
church of otaniemen kappeli, espoo, by heikki siren
church boundaries
senate square + cathedral, helsinki's old landmark
finlandia hall, alvar aalto
aalto's studio
temppeliaukio church [rock church] with light coming solely from above
the holy space inside the rock church
nokia research centre, helsinki
log cabin sauna adjacent to cool lake- the finnish way of outdoor living!
paimio hospital for tubercolosis, now turku university hospital, alvar aalto
villa mairea, norrmakku, by alvar aalto [the admission price was horrendous!]
intimate front entrance of the villa, with asian influence in combining materials, shade and line
inside the villa
windows receiving max. low angle sun
seinajoki civic centre, all public buildings designed by alvar aalto, including master plan
stained glass motif in the seinajoki town church, by alvar aalto
waving goodbye to helsinki, onwards to netherlands!
sketch of finlandia hall, east and west elevations