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Some people seem to think that this museum is a waste of time. Fair enough. I enjoyed my visit very much. Kiasma was named after the Greek letter "chi" and on the word for "crossing", alluding to the basic conceptual idea of its architect, Steven Holl. The museum exhibits the contemporary art collection of the Finnish National Gallery founded in 1990. Its central goal is to make contemporary art better known and strengthen its status.
The construction of the building was a hotly debated. The discussion centered around the museum's location between the statue of Mannerheim and the main post office. The site was criticized for being too narrow and inappropriate. It was claimed to spoil the surroundings and background of the statue of the guy whom the older folk regard as a national hero. Also the selection of an American architect provoked conflicting reactions. The building was chosen as a result of an architectural design competition which was aimed at architects from the Nordic and Baltic countries. However, the winner was a US citizen.
A small-scale protest movement rose to object the construction when it was found that the materials used for the roof were unsuited to extreme weather, and leaks through the seams of the metal were discovered. About 20 000 signatures were collected in protest against the building. However, the building works finally started in 1996 and the museum was opened in 1998. Its inauguration proved to be an undisputed success and several years afterwards the controversy has largely quieted down, especially as the building is now flanked by other modernist buildings, considered by some even uglier in comparison.
Kiasma is fully accessible. Guide dogs are welcome. The ticket office and the Theatre are equipped with tele / induction loop systems.
Opening hours:
Mon closed
Tue, Sun 10am–5pm
Wed–Fri 10am–8.30pm
Sat 10am–6pm
Exceptional opening hours from 10am to 5pm on
20 June 2013, 26 September 2013, 31 October 2013, 26 December 2013
Closed on the following dates:
21 and 22 June 2013 (Midsummer)
6 December 2013 (Independence Day)
23-25 December 2013 (Christmas)
Admission:
Adults 10 €
Concessions 8 € (students, pensioners, conscripts, non-military servicemen)
Group ticket 8 € per person (min. 10 people)
Under 18 year-olds free.
Reduced admission with Euro26 Card.
Free admission with Helsinki Card.
Free admission on the first Friday of the month between 5pm–10pm
Shop and Café
Updated May 28, 2013
Address: Mannerheiminaukio 2
Phone: +358 (0)9 1733 6501
Website: http://www.kiasma.fi
Ice Hockey is a very big sport in Finland. A big part of the population is watching the world championship every year, but that is of course not everything. Last year (2012), the championship was arranged in Helsinki, this year (2013) a part of it was in Helsinki and the main part in Stockholm.
Many people are watching the games together and in Helsinki I saw a big screen in a park this year. There were hundreds of people watching the game together. I think it's pretty nice, when the evenings are long and warm, to be out and watch ice hockey together, and it's free when you are not in the arena where the real game is. Of course it's nice to watch the game live, in the arena, also, but this is a cheaper and easier way! It's definitely recommended!
Written May 27, 2013
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Helsinki offers a huge variety of museums and there is surely something for all of us. Everything from the big art museum Ateneum, to the Finnish National Museum, Helsinki's Citymuseum, the Design Museum and the wonderful Museum of Natural History, just to name a few. But there is so much more to see except these bigger museums. The city offers a lot of smaller, cozy and interesting museums, check all of them up at for example visithelsinki.com.
Personally I love to walk around in different kind of museums so I don't think I live in wrong city for that! Enjoy!
Updated May 9, 2013
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One thing you should do in Helsinki at Easter is to see the "Via Crucis" show. It collects 15 000-20 000 people during one and a half hours when it is dark outside. You are walking with all the people from station to station and there is a Easter drama on three places. It ends at the steps of the Helsinki Cathedral. It is very beautiful and touching. I was there the first time this year. I really recommend you to be a part of this next time. It is of course free entry to this event.
I'm sorry for the bad quality of my pictures. It was pretty difficult to take the pictures, haha. Enjoy!
Updated May 9, 2013
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The building was made out of pinkish Finnish granite in a neoclassical, monumental style. The parliament building was finished in 1930 and inaugurated a year later. The front is marked by the 14 corinthian pillars and the statues of three former presidents. An annex building was added in 1978. Guided tours (Finnish, Swedish and English) are available, depending on season they run daily or only once a week. Due to the schedule, I haven't been able to take part in one of them. EU citizens are entitled to see the parliamentary sessions, unfortunately I don't know about the regulations for non-EU citizens.
Written Apr 29, 2013
Address: Mannerheimintie 30, Helsinki
Website: web.eduskunta.fi/
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This park in southern Helsinki is often associated with gatherings on 1st May (Vappu)or with the expensive neighbourhood of the same name. It is a beautiful park and popular with all kinds of locals and tourists, especially during summertime. A curiosity is the place, where people can come to clean their carpets – which is still used by locals. In and close to the park, there are many sculptures to see. Other nearby attractions include the small islands within sight of the park, the Gygnaeus Art Gallery and the Mannerheim museum which is located right between the embassies in Kaivopuisto.
Written Apr 29, 2013
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Jean Sibelius is probably not the most Finnish name, but he is regarded as Finland's greatest composer. His creative period fell together with the increasing national awareness of Finland in the late19th century. The monument is well-known beyond the boders of Helsinki and symbolizes waves of music. A smaller copy of this monument is located at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. A metal scultpure of Sibelius' head, located to the right of the main monument, is part of the installation as well. The Sibelius monument has a weight of approximately 24 tons and consists of more then 600 hollow pipes. It was presented to the public in 1967. The official name for the monument is Passio Musicae (passion for music).
Updated Apr 29, 2013
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Located in a nice park with sea view, Hietaniemi cemetery is the final resting place of famous Finns such as Mannerheim, Alvar Aalto, C.L. Engel or Urho Kekkonen. Part of the cemetery is dedicated to the victims of the Winter War and other WWII battles. But nothing changed the shape fo the cemetry like Mannerheim's tomb for which many other graves had to be removed....
Written Apr 29, 2013
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Well, not a beach like you would expect it in the Caribbean. The water is chilly enough to scare most swimmers away, even in summertime there are only few days when you see people swimming in the water. However, it is still a popular place to hang out, walking, having a drink etc. Unfortunately, it was also the only place where I have seen extreme poverty in Finland: A Roma family was searching through trashbins.
Written Apr 29, 2013
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Friends of used stuff will enjoy the Hietalahti Flea Market, the city's most popular antiquities and flea. In the summertime, this market is open every day. Outside of the summer season, opening times depend on the weather for the outside area while the hall is always open. Saturday and Sunday morning is suggested as the best time to go. The food stalls are fine too, next to the usual kahvi and munkki there is also a thai food. The hall has antiquities and items of higher quality on offer.
Written Apr 29, 2013
Address: Hietalahtentori, Helsinki
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