Finnisharchitecture.fi info portal is open

Launched in September 2009, finnisharchitecture.fi is a virtual information centre aimed at anyone interested in Finnish architecture. It also promotes Finnish architecture as part of Finland's cultural export. Available in English, it caters to international audiences, including public bodies as well as interested individuals.

The portal brings together the various agents operating in Finnish architecture, guiding visitors to their respective websites. Topical news feature events of international interest such as current overseas projects by Finnish architects. Visitors can search through practicing architects and offices, as well as architects of interest.

The virtual information centre is maintained by the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Alvar Aalto Museum.

Helsinki Seafarers center

Helsinki Seafarers center is an organic-shaped, wooden building in the new Vuosaari Harbor, in the eastern part of Helsinki. The building can also be visited by other than just seafarers. It is open every day, mostly in the afternoons and evenings.

It contains a chapel, multi-purpose space, a small library, sitting room, a café/shop, a laundry and of course a sauna. Important also is an outdoor patio with possibility for barbecuing in the warm season.

The architecture is very different from the rest of the buildings and structures in the new harbor.

Read more: Article by Arkkivahti blog

Image by Jussi Tiainen.

Helsinki close-ups (Helsinki lähikuvia)

Helsinki - close-ups (Helsinki - lähikuvia by Sami Piskonen) is a book that presents Helsinki as a big art gallery. In addition to the tourist sights, the main role is played by glowing neon advertisements, elegant signs and beautiful details of buildings – everyday pieces of art that the passer-by easily overlooks. The book will open the reader’s eyes to see the streets and blocks of the Finnish capital in a new way.

Published by Minerva Kustannus.

CLUES TO HUMAN BEHAVIOR: Planet Fun Fun

CLUES TO HUMAN BEHAVIOR: Planet Fun Fun exhibition @ Kerava Art Museum, 9.9. - 25.10. 2009.

Petri Ala-Maunus, Terhi Heino, Tero Juuti, Heta Kuchka, Sami Lukkarinen, Maiju Salmenkivi, Eliisa Suominen, Minna Suoniemi, Aleksi Tolonen and Thomas Westphal are all part of a generation of artists for whom art is a field of playful curiosity.

Get your own Che Kerava T-shirt from Kerava Art museum shop!

Ovi lifecasting

With Ovi, you can now keep your Facebook friends up to date where you are and what you are doing in a new way.

Right from your Nokia N97, you can lifecast the street address you are at, and your friends can see your location on a map. You can also share a meaningful location from the nearby places of interest or your favourite place that you have saved on Ovi Maps. To show your friends what a great spot you are exploring, you can take a photo, and attach it to your Facebook post.

More info: Ovi Lifecasting

Hyötypyörä - bike courier service

Hyötypyörä is a tiny bike courier service in Helsinki, Finland.
More info: www.hyotypyora.fi

Try also other bike courier services in Helsinki area: BikeXpress, City Mail

Lifelike, Helsinki 78-82, Hannulelauri @ Redrum

Lifelike (FRA), Helsinki 78-82, Hannulelauri

Redrum, Helsinki
Fri 09.10.2009 22-04
Price 12 eur

Enjoy Sauna in a Gondola Lift

Enjoy the hot ride while others are skiing around you. The sauna gondola at Ylläs is the first one in the world.

More info:
Click here.

Pelago Bicycles

The idea for Pelago Bicycles has developed during the last 10 years.

In 2009 Pelago introduced their first bicycles and a shop in Vallila district, uptown Helsinki. Pelago aims to make bicycles that you can be as proud of – bikes that still ride in 2050 – bikes that serve the purpose.

Click here to take a closer look and get one for yourself.

New seaside districts in Helsinki

The transfer of the Sörnäinen and Länsisatama harbours to Vuosaari and shutting down the Laajasalo oil harbour are setting into motion the biggest process of change in Helsinki in over a 100 years. These massive changes reminds me of Hafencity project in Hamburg.


In Hanasaari there will be five terrace buildings.

Kalasatama district

Moving the harbour away from the city centre provides the opportunity to completely transform the shorelines along Sörnäinen and Hermanni, as old industrial buildings, warehouses and harbour operations make way for modern office buildings and residential areas. Kalasatama will be planned for 18 000 residents and 10 000 jobs.

More info: City Planning Department of Helsinki


Länsisatama (West Harbour) district

Within the next couple of decades, the Länsisatama area will have been transformed into a waterfront city quarter with an estimated population of 22 000, which will enhance the appeal of central Helsinki and its services as a whole.

More info: City Planning Department of Helsinki




Kruunuvuorenranta district

The area presently occupied by the Laajasalo oil harbour will be free of the harbour operations by 2010. A new seaside housing district will be built on the site of the present oil harbour and the adjoining land. Kruunuvuorenranta will be planned for 10 000 residents.

More info:
The future neighbourhood of Kruunuvuorenranta (Exhibition)
18.6.-15.8.2009
Laituri

City Planning Department of Helsinki