Finland’s biennial architectural review reflects architecture as a generator of well-being and stability of society

Finnish Architecture – Biennial Review 2020 presents a selection of recent projects showcasing new trends and high standards of excellence in Finnish architecture. The review is organized jointly by the Museum of Finnish Architecture, the Finnish Association of Architects SAFA and the Alvar Aalto Foundation.

House MK5, ORTRAUM architects. Photo by Marc Goodwin.

The review jury this year consists of Martin Braathen PhD., architect, from the National Museum of Norway (Nasjonaalmuseet), Harri Hautajärvi D.Sc. (Tech) architect SAFA, and Kirsi Korhonen architect SAFA.

This year the jury selected fifteen architectural sites. According to the jury, the selections emphasised comprehensive quality-related aspects. At their best, the projects combine high-quality and creative architecture, a measured relationship with the environment, functionality, as well as ecologically sustainable building criteria.

“As regards the fifteen projects included here – and not forgetting we had to exclude many good projects from the selection – we find that they represent the best Finnish architecture of the time. This sample is, for its part, a proof of the wellbeing and stable state of Finnish society. Many studies have ranked Finland amongst the best societies and happiest nations in the world – and here we find proof that it also continues to be a country of high-quality architecture”, states the jury.

The Biennial Review has been presenting top achievements in contemporary Finnish architecture in the form of an exhibition and accompanying publication every two years since 2002. The featured shortlist looks at a wide cross-section of various project-types, ranging in size from small-scale sites to large-scale housing developments and public buildings. The review is a multimedia gateway exploring new architectural projects, opening up new perspectives and stimulating discourse on upcoming trends in architecture. Visitors to the exhibition can familiarize themselves with the selected architectural sites via videos featuring interviews with the architects as well as drone images.

The Exhibition Finnish Architecture – Biennial Review 2020 will open at the Museum of Finnish Architecture on 4 September 2020.

The 2020 projects are:

Lapinmäki daycare centre (AFKS Architects)

Helsinki Central Library Oodi (ALA Architects)

Tuupala school (alt Architects and Architecture Office Karsikas)

Käpylän Posteljooni housing block (Anttinen Oiva Architects)

Gullkronan senior housing (Huttunen-Lipasti Architects)

Amos Rex and Lasipalatsi restoration (JKMM Architects)

Serpentine House renovation (Kati Salonen & Mona Schalin Architects)

Sauna in the Yard (Mattila & Merz)

Lammassaari Nature Trail (Nomaji Landscape Architects and Studio Puisto Architects)

House MK5 (ORTRAUM architects)

Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre (PES-Architects)

Sipoonlahti school extension (Architects Rudanko + Kankkunen and AFKS Architects)

Airut residential block (Sauerbruch Hutton and Optiplan)

Kakola Funicular (Vapaavuori Architects)

Aalto University Väre building (Verstas Architects)

For further information, please contact: 

Ilona Hildén
Communication Planner
Museum of Finnish Architecture
ilona.hilden@mfa.fi
+358 45 7731 0468

Jutta Tynkkynen
Secretary of the Jury
Museum of Finnish Architecture
jutta.tynkkynen@mfa.fi
+358 50 544 3256

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