Juha Leiviskä wins a Helsinki building and construction award
The City of Helsinki’s building and construction board annually awards architects and other key players distinguished in the architectural design and development of Helsinki with recognitions of excellence (Rakentamisen Ruusu). The winner of the 2010 main award is architect Juha Leiviskä, recognized for his lifetime achievement.
The board cites many of Leiviskä’s projects in Helsinki, the latest of which is Svenska Social- och kommunalhögskolan (2009), the Swedish School of Social Science at the University of Helsinki. According to the board, the building is particularly notable for its skillful design and sensitivity to the culturally demanding site. Leiviskä’s other significant projects in Helsinki include the Vallila public library, Cultural Centre Sandels, and a number of renovations of historically and culturally valuable buildings.
Leiviskä (born 1936) is one of Finland’s most recognized living architects. He came to international attention during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s with churches in Finland, each employing a similar design language, which is distinguished by sensitive use of natural light and signature-style compositional principles.
In addition to the main award, the City of Helsinki building and construction board recognized three offices and their key players for pioneering work on culturally and historically significant buildings: architectural office Okulus and its principal architects Mikko Bonsdorff and Kati Winterhalter, architect Sari Schulman of the office of the same name, and engineer Jukka Sainio of engineering company Leo Maaskola.
Work by Juha Leiviskä and the recognition winners are on view at the Helsinki city planning gallery and meeting place Laituri through February 20, 2010.
Juha Leiviskä in Wikipedia
