Stories

Viewpoints

Opinion Piece — 1.2.2025

On the Power of Communal Living

When it comes to communal living, our differences can foster a reciprocal relationship, where no one is there to purely provide or receive support.

Opinion Piece — 1.2.2025

Concept: Conviviality – “Convivial Spaces Draw People Into Encountering One Another”

While a community is typically based on a given shared purpose or interest, social interaction in general can also be centred around the simple objective of enjoying each other’s company. This is illustrated by the concept of conviviality, says Katja Maununaho.

Editorial — 1.2.2025

Prospects from the Troughs

If there is a silver lining to be found in the current downtrend, it is the fact that it at least offers us an opportunity to evaluate the results of the latest construction boom critically, writes Kristo Vesikansa.

Opinion Piece — 1.2.2025

Making Finland Visible – A Response to Rainer Mahlamäki

Finnish architecture arouses interest around the world as long as it is actively promoted in various media, writes Wolfgang Jean Stock.

Editorial — 1.1.2025

Yet Another Monument?

The various development phases of the South Harbour in this millennium do not draw a very flattering picture of the ability of Helsinki’s urban planning machinery to solve such a tangle of problems, writes Kristo Vesikansa.

Opinion Piece — 1.1.2025

Helsinki’s Sprawls and Burrs

The urban structure of Helsinki is fragmented by wrong planning ideals, says architect and professor Kai Wartiainen.

Opinion Piece — 1.1.2025

Where Did the Landscape Go?

Urban nature is more than healthy and hygienic green space steered by science and technology, argues landscape architect Meri Mannerla-Magnusson.

Opinion Piece — 1.5.2024

What Sets the Finnish Architecture Scene Apart from the United States?

Henrik Ilvesmäki studied architecture at Harvard University for four years. He noticed a marked difference between the United States and his native Finland in the dynamics between architectural academia and practice. This difference has a potentially profound impact on the future of the field in the two countries.

Opinion Piece — 1.5.2024

Why Is Finland Not More Visible Abroad?

Rainer Mahlamäki sees at least three factors that explain the modest international visibility of contemporary Finnish architecture. The photos in the article show the 11 buildings located in Finland that have been shortlisted for the Mies van der Rohe Award.

Column — 1.5.2024

Sustainability Is No Longer a Matter of Choice

A new EU directive demonstrates that sustainability entails more than just environmental impacts, and it affects us all.

Opinion Piece — 1.5.2024

How to Integrate into the Finnish Workforce?

To integrate fully into Finnish society, you need to learn the language, says Martino De Rossi.

Opinion Piece — 1.5.2024

How Can Architecture Firms Support Multiculturalism?

In many Finnish architecture firms, international professionals often face career ceilings at junior positions, regardless of their level of experience, writes Gülcan Ozan.

Opinion Piece — 1.5.2024

What Can an Architect Learn from the Working Cultures Abroad?

In Finland, the process of execution of design project is highly standardised and bound by law. In India, there is a lot of back and forth between the worksite and the design table, which compensates for the lack of standardisation, compares Sudar Oli Gunasekaran.

Opinion Piece — 1.5.2024

How Can I Support My International Colleagues?

As individual practitioners, we can play a role in making our profession more inclusive, writes Arvind Ramachandran.

Editorial — 1.5.2024

Closing Borders

There is only a handful of buildings designed by foreign architects in Finland since the country achieved independence. On the other hand, Finland has also lagged behind its neighbours in the area of exporting design know-how.