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An art historian’s nostalgia for cranes

Ville Lukkarinen has focused his studies on the neoclassical downtown area of Helsinki. Still, old suburbs are equally close to his heart.

The view from Ville Lukkarinen’s office in the main building of the University of Helsinki overlooks the very heart of Helsinki, to Senate Square. The shoreline and Market Square are a mere stone’s throw away.

The newly appointed Professor of Art History gets nostalgic. “The South Harbour is beautiful. It was even better when cranes still filled the landscape and a freight train passed through Market Square. It’s industry and traffic – not passenger cars – that are the signs of a city full of life.”

Lukkarinen’s interest in the architecture of the city centre was sparked as he was working on the doctoral thesis he completed a couple of decades ago. His work focused on architect Gustaf Nyström, the architect for the University of Helsinki at the turn of the 20th century.

Many of the neoclassical buildings in the city are designed by him. Just around the corner from Lukkarinen’s office is, for example, the semi-circular rotunda of the National Library, built in 1906.

However, the art historian has chosen to live not in the centre of the city, but in Herttoniemi, an old suburb about ten kilometres to the east. He feels at home in the old suburbs, where nature is never far away. Lukkarinen says that such areas are not appreciated in the way they deserve.

“Complementary building development should be tailor-made, done with respect for the old values. Details should be kept as close to the original as possible, instead of carelessly replacing doors, windows and lights with new ones, as sometimes happens.”

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“This is a place you can bring any European to, be it someone off the street or an expert, and feel proud. The fun part of the building is that the seemingly bleak and closed surface hides a rich interior. The ideals of neoclassicism come alive. There are similar designs in, for example, Berlin.”

“The building reflects the design of foreign market halls of the 19th century. Dignity, style and atmosphere are not lacking – even though the personal input of architect Nyström is not necessarily very obvious. There have been similar steel-framed, brick lined market halls in other European cities, but many of them have been destroyed in wars.”

“This atmospheric and peaceful garden represents the harmony of culture and nature. Nyström designed most of the buildings, such as the former botanic institute, which was built to resemble a south Swedish manor house. Classical greenhouses are always beautiful. All cities with any pride at all have them.”

“The rocky nature trails and farmland make it easy to picture yourself in the middle of a northern wilderness. I enjoy the semi-urban nature as long as no wolves cross my paths.”

“The construction of the oldest part of Herttoniemi began after World War II. The area is spacious and natural and still has plenty of diversity. There are detached houses, row houses and many types of apartment buildings in a varying landscape.”

Text: Anna-Kaisa Kontinaho
Picture: Veikko Somerpuro

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