Very tall construction seems to be the trend around Finland. From the point of view of a real estate operator in the private sector, a tall building is a practical solution. But is it a good idea from the urban scenery perspective? Alone in the Helsinki region, there are as many as 50 ongoing projects. Should the traditional horizontal look of the city be protected? Who wants skyscrapers? Three architects share their opinions.

Both skyscrapers and ‘wow factor’ architecture are connected to the image modification treasured by municipal politicians. “Throughout the ages, rulers have wanted monuments that represent their power,” writes Paula Holmila in her column about ‘wow factor’ architecture. The extravagant postmodern architecture of the economic boom of the 1980s has started to interest people again after years of embarrassed silence. London presents an exhibition on the subject. Anni Vartola approaches the style via architectural writings and interprets the signs of change in buildings constructed in 1975–95.

JMKK designed a children’s house in Saunalahti, Espoo, including a nursery school and a maternity clinic. Funny graphic creatures lurk from the cones of the skylight windows in the lobby and the architecture next to the road is dominated by a meandering shape and playful distribution of windows. Architects Hilla Rudanko and Anssi Kankkunen have designed a colourful vocational school in Cambodia. The project started as an assignment in Aalto University and has been carried out together with local humanitarian organisations.