The sloping roof inside the hall, resembling a church, is designed to enhance indoor acoustics, while the warm-toned interior reflects the colors and shapes of nature itself. Finlandia Hall is a spectacular sight at any time of the day, but if you visit at night, you will see the building's reflection in the water creating a magnificent light show.
Music Centre
The Music Centre (Musikkitalo), adjacent to the Finlandia Hall, is located on the former site of the Helsinki railway yard in the Töölö district. It is a renowned classical music concert hall in Helsinki, newly built and opened to the public in 2012. The design 'Gentle Sound' by the Turku-based LPR Architects won the design competition. In the architects' vocabulary, this title means 'I come gently', not affecting the surrounding scenery. Guided by this philosophy, amidst many already well-known landmark buildings—from Finlandia Hall to the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art and the Parliament complex—the designers conceived a building that is both restrained and elegant.
Helsinki Olympic Stadium
The Olympic Stadium is another example of modern Finnish architecture, designed by architects Yrjö Lindegren and Toivo Jantti, and completed in 1938. When you are inside the stadium, it is hard not to feel the weight of history here. The 1930s were the golden age of Finnish athletics, and in 1952, the Olympics were held in Helsinki, drawing the world's attention. The Soviet Union also sent its first-ever summer Olympic delegation. In recent years, the stadium has also served as a venue for concerts by superstars such as Madonna, U2, and Michael Jackson.
Kamppi Chapel of Silence
The Kamppi Chapel of Silence looks like an elegantly shaped spaceship that has landed in one of Helsinki's busiest shopping districts. This stunning building is both surprising and a serene oasis in the dense urban landscape. The chapel was completed in 2012, coinciding with Helsinki's tenure as the 'World Design Capital.' This building has attracted visitors from all over the world. Many people also 'stumble upon' it by accident, which might be exactly what the KS2 Architects, who designed the Kamppi Chapel of Silence, intended.
Haltia
Haltia is located 25 kilometers outside of Helsinki, next to Nuuksio National Park, and is a model of sustainable architecture. This elegantly designed building was created by the architectural firm Lahdelma & Mahlamäki, inspired by the mythical bird Goldeneye from the Finnish epic Kalevala, and won the 2013 Finnish Wooden Building Award. It is the first public building in Finland constructed entirely of wood.
Aalto House
A tour of Helsinki's modernist architecture would be incomplete without visiting the Aalto House in the Munkkiniemi district. Here, Alvar and Aino Aalto designed and built their perfect home and studio together. This is a modernist building with a white brick structure, wooden exterior walls, and covered in vines. During the construction, the natural scenery was almost left untouched. The Aaltos made full use of natural light and preserved the natural scenery while designing a home that could withstand Finland's harsh winters. Large grid windows face the sunlight, offering a full view of the garden. Multiple terraces and open fireplaces suggest the owners' preference for outdoor activities, yet the exterior walls remain sturdy, isolating the home from external disturbances. This is a home suitable for all seasons.
Villa Mairea
Villa Mairea, located in Noormarkku, Finland, was designed by Alvar Aalto and his wife Aino at the request of their friends, the wealthy industrialist couple Harry and Maire Gullichsen. The Gullichsens were enthusiasts of modern art and encouraged Aalto to experiment boldly. The whimsical layering and interweaving of various styles and materials not only divide the space but also suggest different moods. The interior and exterior are intentionally perplexing: large windows seem to invite the outside in, while the birch forest contrasts with the artificial forest created by the staggered wooden columns inside the villa.
St. Henry's Ecumenical Art Chapel
Once you arrive in Turku, you must visit this uniquely charming art chapel on Hirvensalo Island. The extremely simple design is both awe-inspiring and incredibly understated. St. Henry's Ecumenical Art Chapel was designed by Sanaksenaho Architects and completed in 2005. It serves as a monument to the surrounding nature and a tribute to early Christian churches.
