Baltic Jugend

« A Jugend building on Korkeavuorenkatu painted with a castle-like shadow in the late afternoon sun. »

Helsinki has some of the most beautiful Art Nouveau, a.k.a. Jugend, architecture in abundance. Much of Katajanokka and Töölö were designed and built during the few years that Jugend was popular and so hold the greatest concentrations of the style. The Finnish Museum of Architecture is currently showing and exhibit titled Architecture 1900 - Baltic Art Nouveau which explores the collaboration of Jugend architects from Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga and St. Petersburg. The years between 1890 and 1912 were likely the most interesting years in modern history and the buildings and designs reflect the meeting point of old and new. The exhibit is full of photographs, drawings, old postcards, currency designs and other bits of interest from the period in all 5 cities. Out of the sample, I'd have to say that Finland had the most beautiful overall style. There is a book to accompany the exhibit that is nicely designed, although it doesn't include all of the photos and drawings from the exhibit. Entrance is only 3,50€ and the book, in English, is 26€. All of the captions are in Finnish, Swedish and English as well. It will be at the museum until 29 August when it moves on to Stockholm.

The Musuem is also sponsoring a number of lectures and guided tours on the topic of Jugend architecture. It doesn't state what language the lectures are in, so it is likely safe to assume that they are in Finnish. There are, however, a few guided walks/tours that are in English.

• Wednesday, 18 August 2004, 6pm, MFA ≈ Finnish Architecture and Interaction around the Baltic Sea in the Early 1900s - Prof. Pekka Korvenmaa and Metropolitan Models - Town Planning in Finland - Timo Tuomi, Head of Research.
• Wednesday, 25 August 2004, 6pm, MFA ≈ Patrons from St. Petersburg Sponsoring New Finnish Architecture - Anna-Lisa Amberg, Ph.D. and Bonds around the Baltic Sea: Finnish - European Networks - Prof. Marjatta Hietala
• Thursday, 26 August 2004, The Night of the Arts, 6pm, MFA ≈ Architectural office of Usko Nyström-Petrelius-Penttilä: apartment building for six sections of the city in Helsinki - Eija Rauske, Researcher
• Saturday, 21 and 28 August 2004, 2pm and Thursday, 26 August 2004, 7.30pm (free entrance after 4pm) ≈ Guided Exhibition Tours
• Tuesdays 10, 17, 24 and Wednesdays 4 and 11 August 2004, 6pm, MFA ≈ Guided City Walks - Tuesdays, Facing the Stone City - Art Nouveau in Helsinki (Suomeksi) and Wednesdays, Art Nouveau Architecture in Helsinki (in English). Fee is 5/3€. Call (09) 8567 5100 for more info.