Memorable infrastructures are always played through the arts. Helsinki, the capital of Finland surprised the world when they release their own brand of architecture. It was a clear breakthrough from the predictable rise of the Greek and Roman designs. Unlike the latter two great cities, Finland was no conqueror. Although it had its share of wars during the medieval period, unlike European nation like Great Britain and France, or even Italy, it had no ambition with regards to domination of the western empire.
Architecture in Helsinki was distinct in a way that it reflected the very same laid back disposition of its people. Unique but no less elaborate in structure and form, it was still relatively simple in comparison to its British and French counter parts.
Carl Ludvig Engel (1778-1840), was one of the major influences in Finland’s architecture. He designed several key sites under the neo-classical era for the buildings in Helsinki. He especially devoted most of his life as an architect in Helsinki due to unique requests from his clients. We would later refer to his tasks collectively as the White City of the North.
Most of the architectural structure in Helsinki at that time became almost shallow with its width, seeing as how the typical set-up of a building back then was that it only consisted of two to three floors maximum. The only architecture in Helsinki at that time which remotely resembled the complex sophistication of its neighboring countries was the Cathedral designed by Engel, located on the northern side of the Senate Square. Engel did not live to see his masterpiece though, as it was finished 12 years after his demise.
The city of Helsinki is most famous for its numerous Art Nouveau buildings. These architectures were designed in the early 1900s and were strongly influenced by a very fashionable theme in the national art of that period, which is a very popular theme in the national romantic art of that era, the Kalevala.
Architectures in Helsinki also pride itself for the buildings designed by world-renowned Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto. He is one of the pioneers in functionalism in the study of architecture. Many of Aalto’s projects evoke extreme emotions such as love and hate; there was never a grey area around him. Most of the houses he designed such as the Enso-house and the Finlandia Hall have imposed a line between admirers and critics. GP
Architecture in Helsinki: A Brief Encounter
Architecture in Helsinki was distinct in a way that it reflected the very same laid back disposition of its people. Unique but no less elaborate in structure and form, it was still relatively simple in comparison to its British and French counter parts.
Carl Ludvig Engel (1778-1840), was one of the major influences in Finland’s architecture. He designed several key sites under the neo-classical era for the buildings in Helsinki. He especially devoted most of his life as an architect in Helsinki due to unique requests from his clients. We would later refer to his tasks collectively as the White City of the North.
Most of the architectural structure in Helsinki at that time became almost shallow with its width, seeing as how the typical set-up of a building back then was that it only consisted of two to three floors maximum. The only architecture in Helsinki at that time which remotely resembled the complex sophistication of its neighboring countries was the Cathedral designed by Engel, located on the northern side of the Senate Square. Engel did not live to see his masterpiece though, as it was finished 12 years after his demise.
The city of Helsinki is most famous for its numerous Art Nouveau buildings. These architectures were designed in the early 1900s and were strongly influenced by a very fashionable theme in the national art of that period, which is a very popular theme in the national romantic art of that era, the Kalevala.
Architectures in Helsinki also pride itself for the buildings designed by world-renowned Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto. He is one of the pioneers in functionalism in the study of architecture. Many of Aalto’s projects evoke extreme emotions such as love and hate; there was never a grey area around him. Most of the houses he designed such as the Enso-house and the Finlandia Hall have imposed a line between admirers and critics. GP