Helsinki: A Cultural and Literary HistoryHelsinki is one of the world's most northerly capitals, but it is by no means a city frozen in northern wastes. Situated along the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, magnificent lakes and forests reach into Helsinki's urban heart, a rare event in today's world of suburban sprawl. The city's natural beauty, emphasized by parks and islands, is matched by an extraordinary cultural richness, the result of fruitful foreign influences and home-grown creativity. The Finnish capital offers a spectacular display of architecture and design: from the neoclassical magnificence imposed by a Russian Tsar to the modernist chic of Nordic functionalism. Neil Kent explores the history and culture of the Daughter of the Baltic, a small fishing village that became a powerhouse of design and technology. Tracing its dramatic past of conflict and conflagration, he explores the evolution of a national, and urban, identity through architecture, art and writing. tango, he explains why Helsinki is a distinctive mix of tradition and innovation. * City of Architects and Designers: Engel, Tsar Alexander I and the creation of an imperial metropolis; Alvar Aaalto and the birth of the modern; functionalism and high-tech innovation. * City of Music and the Arts: Sibelius, the national composer; conductors and performers; art galleries and installations; National Romanticism and the Nordic aesthetic. * City of Hospitality: Art Nouveau hotels and cafes; sauna culture; famous visitors and refugees: Lenin and Hitler; multicultural Helsinki and a history of migration. |
Contents
Suomenlinna Fortress 46 Russian Stronghold 49 The Cantonist | 56 |
CHAPTER FOUR | 69 |
Folk Revival 72 Awakening of SwedishFinnish Identity 75 Finnish | 79 |
CHAPTER FIVE | 89 |
St Nicholas 92 Spiritual Diversity 94 Holy Trinity Church 95 | 95 |
Minority 101 Muslim Helsinki 102 Religious Freedoms 102 | 102 |
163 Schools 165 Helsinki University 166 Helsinki Polytechnic | 163 |
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Common terms and phrases
Aalto Alexander Alvar Aalto architect architectural arrived artists became building built café central Church city's construction continued Czar decades decorated designed early Engel especially Esplanade established ethnic European façade famous Finland Finnish capital Finnish national Finnish-speaking fortress garden German Gustaf Gustaf Nyström Helsinki Helsinki University Hotel House imperial important industry inspiration Kaivopuisto Kalevala Kallio Kämp Karelia Katajanokka Kekkonen language large numbers later linguistic Lönnrot Lutheran Mannerheim Mannerheimintie military modern Museum musical National Romantic National Romantic style Nicholas nineteenth century Nordic offices Olympic opera Orthodox Park Petersburg political population post-war residence restaurant role Runeberg Russian Empire Saarinen sauna sculpture Senate Square Sibelius Sibelius Academy significant situated so-called social society Soviet style suburbs Suomenlinna Sweden Swedish Swedish-speaking Swedish-speaking Finns symbol Tamminiemi Tapiola Theater Töölö town tradition Turku twentieth century urban venue Villa visitors winter Winter War wooden