Read about Tapiola - Espoon Matkailu

Architecture
One of the best ways to get to know Tapiola’s architecture and landscape is on
foot. Tapiola’s architectural tour continues along the shore through Otaniemi,
onto Keilaniemi and Karhusaari, ending up at Hanasaari. See walking tours on
the big map.
AEspoo Cultural Centre 1989
Arto Sipinen, Kaupinkalliontie 10
Arto Sipinen’s entry was the winner
of an open competition for architects
held in 1980.
BKino Tapiola 1955
Aarne Ervi, Mäntyviita 2
The first film performance held at Kino
Tapiola took place on 30.10.1955 and
the cinema remains in its original use
today. It has been renovated and may
be rented as a venue for corporate
and private conferences and functions.
www.kinotapiola.fi
CTapiola Church 1965
Aarno Ruusuvuori, Tapionraitti 1
Aarno Ruusuvuori’s entry “ Sacred
trees” took first prize in an invitation
competition. Ruusuvuori said that
“seen from the outside, the church is
an isolated world of its own, enclosed
by walls”. The interior of the church is
stark. The eastern wall is dominated by
a concrete slab grid through which the
light forces its way into the church. The
overall colour scheme for the church
was designed by Juhana Blomstedt.
DWeeGee Exhibition Centre 1966-74
Aarno Ruusuvuori, Ahertajantie 5
The design of the building aimed at a
seamless combination of nature and
man’s working environment. Originally
designed as the Weilin & Göös printing
house, the building was opened as
an exhibition centre on 13.10.2006
and houses EMMA – Espoo Museum
of Modern Art, Espoo City Museum,
Helinä Rautavaara museum, Leikkilinna
– Finnish Toy Museum, Museum of
Horology, Gallery Aarni, Café WeeGee
and the WeeGee Shop.
ETapiolan Swimming Pool 1965
Aarne Ervi, Kirkkopolku 3
The Swimming Pool was originally designed
as a transitional form between
an indoor and outdoor swimming pool.
The pool was renovated in 2005.
FCentral Tower 1961
Aarne Ervi, Tapiontori
The floodlit tower continues to act as
a Tapiola landmark. For a number of
years a popular panorama café was
located on the top floor of the tower
office building.
WeeGee Exhibition Centre
Tapiola Church
Timo Tuomi: A guide to Tapiola architecture and history. Gummerus 1992
GMäntytorni Housing Corporation
1954 Aarne Ervi, Mäntyviita 4
Originally designed as an apartment
building for childless couples, the
building housed a café on the top floor
until 1960.
HKetju Housing Corporation 1954
Aulis Blomstedt, Menninkäisentie 4, 6
The buildings date back to 1953-54,
Tapiola’s first construction stage. The
chain-like buildings which comprise
12 residences, each with an area of
approximately 97 m2, were christened
“chicken runs”.
ISäästökontu, Tornitaso and Nelostorni
Housing Corporations
Viljo Revell, Tornitaso 1, 3, 7, 9
Tower blocks known popularly as
“hip-flask” buildings.
JSuvikulma, Suvikeskus and Suvikärki
Housing Corporations 1967-
1969 Raili ja Reima Pietilä
Suvikuja 3,4, Suvikummunrinne 4
The buildings are based on the Pietiläs’
winning entry in the Suvikumppu
invitation competition held in 1962.
KSuvituuli Housing Corporation 1982
Raili ja Reima Pietilä
Suvikummunrinne 2, Suvikummuntie 2
The Pietiläs’ design from the 1980s
carried on the close-to-nature modern
architecture ideology of the first Suvikumpu
stage.
LHarjuviita and Kannastorni Housing
Corporationsi 1962-1963, Otatornit
Housing Corporation 1967
Alvar Aalto, Harjuviita 1, 4, 16, 18,
20-22
The only buildings in Tapiola designed
by Alvar Aalto hallmark the Tapiola
silhouette seen from the Helsinki
direction.
A = Object on big map, on last page
Otaniemi
On the initiative of the Helsinki University
of Technology the Finnish state
purchased land in Otaniemi in 1949.
The urban plan competition for the
area was won by Alvar Aalto. The plan
covered the location of the Technical
Research Centre of Finland, the Helsinki
University of Technology and residential
accommodation for staff and students.
The buildings of the residential student
village “Teekkarikylä” were the first
to be built on the site and served as
residences for competitors in the 1952
Olympic Games. The village also features
a chapel designed by Heikki and Kaija
Siren in 1957.
The Helsinki University of Technology
campus was built during the 1960s. The
main building was completed in 1965
(Alvar Aalto), the central library in 1969
(Alvar Aalto) and Dipoli in 1966 (Raili
and Reima Pietilä). Blending into the
surrounding landscape, Dipoli was the
subject of controversial discussion and
criticism in Finland but warmly applauded
by international architects.
Alvar Aalto’s urban plan was based on
the concept of the central location of the
main building in relation to its setting.
The entrance to the area was through an
avenue of lime trees in the park of the
old Hagalund Manor. The main building
and the library were surrounded by
extensive lawns which served as a park
for students. The main building material
was red brick.
Tapiola Swimming Pool
Sources: www.tkk.fi and www.visitespoo.fi