The building has a tilted roof resembling a church, which is designed to enhance indoor sound effects, 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 come at night, you will see the building's reflection in the water, creating a fantastic light show.
Music center
Musikkitalo, adjacent to the Diak Air Building in Finland, is a famous classical music concert hall in Helsinki. It was completed and opened in 2012. The design by the LPR architectural firm was selected as the winning entry in a design competition. The guiding principle of the design was to have a minimal impact on the surrounding landscape while being understated and elegant among other landmark buildings in the area.
Helsinki Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium is another example of modern Finnish architecture, designed by architects Yrjö Lindegren and Toivo Jantti and completed in 1938. It carries a heavy sense of history when you are inside the stadium. The 1930s were the golden age of Finnish athletics, and in 1952, the Olympic Games were held in Helsinki, attracting worldwide attention, and the Soviet Union sent its first-ever summer Olympic delegation. In recent years, the stadium has also hosted concerts by stars such as Madonna, U2, and Michael Jackson.
Kangbi Jingsi Hall
Kamppi Chapel of Silence looks like an elegantly shaped spaceship that has landed in one of Helsinki's busiest shopping areas. The building is stunning and surprising amidst the dense urban landscape, providing a peaceful and serene retreat. Completed in 2012, the chapel attracted visitors from around the world, including those who stumbled upon it unexpectedly, which may have been the intention of the KS2 architectural design firm behind the design.
Hartia
Haltia is located 25 kilometers outside of Helsinki, next to Nuuksio National Park, and is a model of sustainable architecture. This elegantly designed building, inspired by the mythical bird golden eye owl from the Finnish epic "Kalevala," was created by the architectural firm Lahdelma & Mahlamäki and won the Finnish Wooden Architecture Award in 2013. It is the first fully wooden public building in Finland.
Alto's former residence
The visit to Alvar Aalto's home and studio in Munkkiniemi is essential for a complete tour of Helsinki's modernist architecture. The white brick modernist building with wooden exteriors and climbing vines was designed and built by Alvar and Aino Aalto together. They preserved the natural landscape during the construction process. The residence is designed to make full use of natural light and withstand the harsh Finnish winter climate. The large square windows face the sun, offering views of the garden, and multiple terraces and open fireplaces suggest a preference for outdoor activities. The solid exterior walls provide a barrier against external disturbances, making it a comfortable home for all seasons.
Marriott Villa
Alvar Aalto and his wife Aino were commissioned by their friends, the wealthy industrialist couple Harry and Maire Gullichsen, to design the Maire Gullichsen Villa in Noormarkku, Finland. The Gullichsens had a passion for modern art and encouraged Aalto to be bold in his design. The villa features a playful combination of styles and materials, creating layered and interconnected spaces that evoke different moods. The interior and exterior intentionally perplex the viewer: large windows seem to invite the outside in, while the birch forest outside contrasts with the artificial forest created by the interlocking wooden columns inside the villa.
St. Henry Christian Art Church
Once you arrive in Turku, you must visit the charming and unique art church on Hirvensalo Island. The simple and humble design of the St. Henry Christian Art Church, designed by Sanaksenaho architectural firm and completed in 2005, is both awe-inspiring and understated. It serves as a monument to the surrounding nature and pays tribute to early Christian churches.
