Housing complexes where I live in Voosari

We met for classes the very next morning at the Helsinki University of Technology on a campus in Otaneimi that was designed by Alvar Aalto. Many of the buildings are quite stunning, down to the very small details like door handles and light fixtures all designed by Aalto. Over the last few days we have visited many works of Architecture, including a number of chapels. In Finland, the predominant religion is Lutheran and a good deal of public money goes to building beautiful churches, even though I have learned the Finns rarely attend church. In fact, during the summer when most Finns are on holiday at their summer cabins, there are almost no services held. Most of the designs are won through competition, and so the chapels are designed by the countries best architects and some by up and coming young architects as well. Here are some of the highlights:

Juha Leiviska, Myyrmaki Church

Siren & Siren, Otaniemi Chapel

This week, I participated in a seminar with Professor Cartwright, Jari Jetsonen; our guest lecturer from Finland, and 8 other U of O students to construct 2 exhibition quality models of Aalto’s summer houses,  Muurasalto (the experimental house) and Villa Flora . The two models will be included in the exhibition curated by Jari and Sirkkaliisa Jetsonen in collaboration with the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Alvar Aalto Museum. We spent the week in the furniture design studio and barely finished up the models in time for their departure.

A closer look at the brick courtyard of the Experimental House.

The first exhibit with the new models is in Seattle at the Nordic Heritage Museum