Helsinki Art Nouveau

Influenced by Classicism and modernised by Functionalism, Helsinki is also known for its Art Nouveau architecture.

The Finnish National Romantic movement flourished in the early years of the 20th century. Finnish Art Nouveau drew a great deal of inspiration and influences from the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic. This style is also referred to as Karelianism, after the region where the tales in the Kalevala originated.

The main railway station in Helsinki is impossible to miss. It is considered to be the most significant creation in the National Romantic style. Completed in 1919, it was designed by Eliel Saarinen, the most important member of this movement. Be sure to take a look inside the attractive station restaurant.

Adjacent to the railway station is one of the first and still most impressive public Art Nouveau buildings in Helsinki: the Finnish National Theatre. Constructed in grey Finnish granite and red roof tiles, the theatre looks as if it has been standing in the same spot for hundreds of years – even though it was designed in 1902 by the architect Onni Tarjanne.

Not far from the railway station and the National Theatre is the Finnish National Museum (address: Mannerheimintie 34). Bears carved from stone greet visitors outside, and there are frescoes in the foyer depicting scenes from the Kalevala. Akseli Gallen-Kallela, renowned for his Kalevala paintings, designed the frescoes for the architects Armas Lindgren, Herman Gesellius and Eliel Saarinen.

Kallio Church (address: Itäinen Papinkatu 2) is a bit further away, but it is definitely worth a visit if you’re not in a hurry. If you don’t have time to make that little excursion, you can still admire the church from the market square: there is a clear line of sight along the street all the way to Kallio.

Katajanokka, Kruunuhaka and Eira are the neighbourhoods where visitors who want to see Art Nouveau apartment buildings should take a stroll. In Katajanokka, on the corner of Kruunuvuorenkatu, you can see something quite remarkable: an Art Nouveau chemist’s with owl, fox and squirrel motifs.