European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 24, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse By Bob Hoyer staff writer in Finland the architect has always had to contend with the harsh unrelenting realities of climate and Topography. Although lacking the grandeur the spectacular and Lush aspects of architecture in Europe and Asia finnish architecture even from Early times is rooted in nature. Along with this organic concept forced on a people who must constantly Battle the elements has been a Basic geometrical simplicity. Combine these conditions with the proud urge of a new nation Finland declared its Independence during the russian revolution in 1917 and established a Republic two years later to create an Art form of its own and you get an idea Why finnish architecture has gained world renown in the last 40 the influence of finnish architecture has been far out of proportion to the size 4.6 million population of the country. _ it because so Many examples of the Early finnish architecture were destroyed by fire most Early buildings were constructed of Wood and because Inland for centuries existed on the Periphery of european culture its architecture was largely ignored until the 20th modern times with the functional aspects of construction emphasized an with the idea of organic architecture gaining recognition under the influences of such architects As America s Frank Lloyd Wright finnish architecture emerged As the nation s leading Art. Most influential figure in this develop ment is Alvar Aalto whose organic concepts gained International recognition and whose numerous civic Center apartments factories churches and other buildings stand today As monuments of his artistic vision. Among those sharing the development of the new architecture with Aalto was Eliel Saarinen who emigrated to the United states in 1923 and took his 13 year old son Eero with him. The Helsinki railway station and the league of nations building in Geneva were de signed by , son Eero became even More famous than his father with his design of such buildings As Dulles International Airport at Chan Lilly va., the Twa Ter Minal at Kennedy Airport n.y., and the u s. Embassies in London and the influences of such men As Aalto and the elder Saarinen have been indisputable on finnish architecture a new generation now is making reputation of its own. Finnish architecture has not stood still. Dramatically combining the latest architectural concepts with Cit planning is the residential Community of tapioca a satellite of capital City name is significant. Tapioca was the mythical Forest Home of the Godsin the inspirational poem Jean Sibelius Finland s great 20thcentury composer used the title tap Iola for his last important work atone poem commissioned for the new York philharmonic orchestra and give nits Premier in 1925. But Sibelius s tap Iola is no Mere haunt for a legendary god but rather a picture of Frozen Forest and Lake of Pale Light and pastel col ors of the primeval landscape in its most forbidding garb. This tapioca is nature in the nature is the dominant Quality f tapioca the Garden Community. Wit hits Green belts Evergreen and Birch Trees and lakes and ruggedly handsome1terrain, architecture in tapioca becomes a secondary and supporting element of nature. Heikkla von Hertzen president an planning director for tapioca Points out that the Beauty of nature Trees and the original Topography of the surroundings have been preserved insofar As possible in the development of the Community. The idea was to create a setting that would help eliminate the fatigue Monotony boredom and mental illnesses associated with the modern City. Von Hertzen asks a series of questions to explain the thinking that preceded the bulldozers at , ill the communities built by us be pulled Down by the next generation with the explanation that they have no cultural significance and that they Are slums or will even a part of what we Arenow planning with such great efforts survive for some generations or per haps even centuries what is the final result of town planning this question has an enormous significance both culturally and von Hertzen contends that the mos dangerous enemy of creative Community planning is formal bureaucracy. But there Are other enemies instance the wrong idea of the techniques mechanical devices that Are not subordinated to serve Man but Al Lowed to enslave the planning of tapioca Man and his individuality his need for communion with nature was Given top priority. A major innovation in landscaping waste placing of Multi Story buildings alternately with Low buildings thu achieving spaciousness and variety. An old gravel pit in the Center of the area was converted into a two and a half acre Pool with fountains in the raid dle and Public buildings bordering it. The town Center of tapioca it is dominated by a 13-Story office building is separated from the surrounding neigh boyhood units by Green belts. T h r e e promenades Lead to the Center one from each neighbourhood unit. Page 14 besides the main administrative cultural and business Center there Are three Independent neighbourhood Cen ters each designed to serve 6,000 in main cultural Center includes a theater and concert Hall music conservatory Art gallery Library Church and congregation Hall Public health Cen Ter youth Center tourist information enter swimming Hall hotel second Ary school technical schools and Exten Sive parking lots for automobiles. A number of satellite towns similar to tapioca have been planned for the greater Helsinki commentators have praised this trend which they contend will prevent Helsinki population 500, 000 from growing in the ugly unwieldy ways of cities in Industrial areas throughout the older architecture of Helsinki a Community which serves As port an Harbor commercial educational governmental and cultural Center and Gate Way to a nation has held up Well. An airy and elegant City Helsinki developed rapidly during the Early years of the 19th Century from an insignificant town of Frame buildings. It was the neoclassical designs of Carl Ludwig in gel Finland s most famous Early architect which first put the City on the map. The next import contributions were produced by the romanticism which dominated the thinking of plan ners at the turn of the Century. Blended in with the products of these two former periods is the architecture of the 20thcentury. The Overall effect is pleasing and it has made Helsinki one of themore Beautiful capitals of the world. Several cities namely Turku the for the stars and stripes Mer capital do possess isolated build Ings which Date from Antiquity. But in the Case of most towns periodic fire destroyed the prevailing Timber construction. An exception to this is the sur prising number of medieval churches some of Stone construction which have survived the severity of the those who have a special interest in architecture they Are Worth an inspection. But the average visitor will be More interested in the modern look. And this is the Way the finns prefer it. A Tough vibrant and intelligent peo ple who have been buffeted Between the cultural currents of East and Westfor centuries and have had to scratch and fight to preserve their National identity the finns Are justly proud of their contemporary architecture and the influence it has had on planners and de signers the world Over. Are built to blend with rather than destroy Finland s natural Beauty. Designers hoped to eliminate fatigue and boredom associated with Many modern cities. There s As much together Ness in tapioca As in american suburbs yet Homes lend feeling of seclusion and Tranquility found in Mountain Cabins. Named after mythical Forest Home of gods tapioca has influenced City planning throughout the world. Tapioca s town Center dominated by 13-Story office building gently holds nature to fit Man s needs. Is. Milns Clow Homes for tapioca s 18,000 residents strive for simple elegance and individuality inside and out. Sunday september 24, 1967 sunday september 24, 1967 vhf stars and stripes Page 15
