Helsinki opens up closed city spaces to citizens
OpenHouseHelsinki opens doors to buildings, spaces and sites not regularly accessible by the general public. The three-day event offers citizens and visitors to Helsinki opportunities to see old and new architecture, exciting city facilities and enticing interiors, acquainting them with spiritual experience, diplomatic life, contemporary architecture, Helsinki’s past and future, and the functions of the city.
The fourth annual OpenHouseHelsinki event, on September 2-4, takes visitors to such diverse locations as a downtown mosque, the home of Alvar Aalto, the new Paulig coffee roastery and headquarters (Tommila Architects), inner yards in the city, and even the sewer network beneath the city.
Contemporary architecture in Helsinki is further represented by the new University of Helsinki school of Svenska social- och kommunalhögskolan (Juha Leiviskä), HOAS student housing in Viikki, Helsinki, (Playa Architects), Helsinki Seafarers’ Centre in the Vuosaari Harbour (Ark-house Architects), the Chapel of St. Lawrence in Vantaa (Avanto Architects), and the Kirkkojärvi comprehensive school in Espoo (Verstas Architects).
Secrets of Helsinki’s past are revealed on the small island of Lonna, a site of Finland’s war-time history: during World War II, the island hosted a demagnetizing station for metal-hull vessels to protect them against magnetic sea mines.
By letting people into spaces that are normally closed or restricted to the general public, OpenHouseHelsinki seeks to increase transparency and underscore democratic values in the city. The tours are on first-come-first-served basis and free of charge. They are led by architects, city planners and other experts.
The OpenHouseHelsinki event is organized by the Openhouse Association together with the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA).
OpenHouseHelsinki, September 2-4, 2010
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