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.
A Decade of No Colour
Colour is an inseparable characteristic of architecture that has its distinct, long and diverse traditions independent of the developments in fine arts.
Open the Box!
The Finnish Architectural Review has followed theatre construction since the early years of our publication, writes Kristo Vesikansa. Instead of the generic facilities provided by the black box, many of today’s theatre-makers are intrigued by staging performances in other existing spaces, which then become an integral element of the dramatic piece itself.
Intelligence Matters
It has been estimated that, by streamlining the design process, AI will make a large proportion of architects obsolete. We should not rush to take the current guesstimates too seriously, yet it would be wise to reflect on how much of an architect’s work can actually only be managed by the human mind, writes the Editor-in-Chief Kristo Vesikansa.
Editorial 1/2024: In Need of Heart Surgery?
Recently, we have been reading a lot of news about the decline of city centres. Is the heart of the city permanently damaged, or would there be an effective remedy for the ailment?
Editorial 5/2023: Fine-Tuning Our Environment
A skilled crafter knows how to combine existing pieces into a new one, to give a mass-produced item an individual look or to come up with a new use for unnecessary, unused things. This would also be a valuable basic skillset for each and every architect, writes Kristo Vesikansa.
Editorial 4/2023: Master in the Forest
Reima Pietilä can be seen as a pioneer of a mindset that recognized nature's intrinsic value on par with that of humans, writes Kristo Vesikansa.
Editorial: The Perimeter Block Alone Does Not Guarantee a Lively Urban Environment
The city block has been the basic unit of urbanism for thousands of years, and it seems to thrive in contemporary cities, as well.
Editorial 2/2023: Caring for People Needs Architecture
In 2014, the Finnish Architectural Review published an issue on hospital architecture, following the new construction boom. Now is a good moment to examine whether the designs have delivered on the promises made nine years ago.