Thursday, April 23, 2009

Finlandia House and Parliament Building

Also along the bay of Toolo lies the Finlandia House, which was designed by the world famous architect Alvar Aalto (R.I.P.) also known for his furniture designs.

All sorts of venues take place in this building, which is panelled with italian marmor plates. International political conferences, fashion and cosmetics shows, concerts (mainly classical) and other types of medium sized fairs are among those venues. Larger fairs and shows take place in the Pasila Fair Center.


The red tower to the right is that of the Finnish National History Museum and to the left is the corner of the Parliament Building.


This is the facade of the Parliament Building, where the political parties gather to debate political issues with the ministers of the government. That is then televised. The different speaches are timed by a Mr Speaker (earlier it was Madam Speaker). All in all a pretty common political system within Europe.

10 comments:

  1. Both shots are just fantastic! Love the contrast of the old and the new. Great architecture indeed.

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  2. I've been to the Finlandia House only once, it must have beenone of the first concerts ever given there (if not the first). I liked it very much, but I understand there are problems with the marmor plates in winter...
    (I must have aphoto of my mother somewhere, discussing with Alvar himself)

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  3. Extra-ordinary building and very nice captured!

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  4. Wow fot the building. Helsinky has spectacular buildings.
    Mary Elizabeth @ Now and Then

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  5. Thanks for showing us more of Helsinki's beautiful buildings.

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  6. Alvar Aalto's Finlandia House is an incredibly beautiful building, add to that Sibelius and one can imagine an angels' choir singing above it!

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  7. Your post reminded me of the beautiful Finnish Embassy in Washington DC (my former home), designed by the architects Heikkinen and Komonen. It was quite a sensation when it opened back in the mid-nineties.

    The A.Aalto Savoy vase in glass is to this day my favorite for daffodils in spring.

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  8. I really like the bold architecture.

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Thankyou for taking the time to come and visit.