Vilhelm Helander
Encyclopedia
Arne Anders Vilhem Helander (born February 8, 1941, Helsinki
), is a Finnish
architect
and was Professor of Architecture History at Helsinki University of Technology
, Espoo
, Finland
from 1986 until 2005, when he became Professor Emeritus.
Helander qualified as an architect in 1967, and completed a further Licentiate
degree in architecture in 1972. He had been teaching in Helsinki University of Technology, in the position of teaching assistant already since 1963, while still studying, and was an "acting professor" in 1968-69.
In addition to his teaching work, Helander has also worked as an architect. He has had his own office since 1968, but has been in partnership with architect Juha Leiviskä
since 1978, their firm being called Vilhelm Helander, Juha Leiviskä arkkitehdit SAFA.
Helander first came to public prominence with the polemical book Kenen Helsinki? (Whose Helsinki?) (1970), written jointly with architect Mikael Sundman. This was a period when the building rights for many urban centres in Finland had been raised, allowing both owners and property developers to build larger buildings, the consequence of which was the destruction of much of the old urban fabric. In many cases, the historic facades were preserved and new buildings with denser areas were built behind them. Helander and Sundman's book was one of the first publications to bring the destruction of the historical Helsinki to public attention. One of the main examples was the development of the neoclassical
Helsinki City Hall being vastly modified by architect Aarno Ruusuvuori
. The book was awarded the prestigious Eino Leino Prize
in 1971.
Helander went on to specialise in building conservation, both in teaching and in practice. Helander has also written widely on the subject of the history of Finnish architecture.
Helander is a member of the Finnish Association of Architects. He has been a member of a number of boards, including the Alvar Aalto
Foundation (1997-2006), and the City of Helsinki city building inspection commission (1976-79, 1982-85).
He is married to Elisabeth Helander, Director of Community Initiatives and Innovative Actions of the Directorate-General for Regional Policy of the European Commission
.
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
), is a Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and was Professor of Architecture History at Helsinki University of Technology
Helsinki University of Technology
Aalto University School of Science and Technology , was the temporary name for Helsinki University of Technology during the process of forming the Aalto University...
, Espoo
Espoo
Espoo is the second largest city and municipality in Finland. The population of the city of Espoo is . It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. Espoo shares its eastern border with Helsinki and Vantaa, while enclosing Kauniainen....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
from 1986 until 2005, when he became Professor Emeritus.
Helander qualified as an architect in 1967, and completed a further Licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
degree in architecture in 1972. He had been teaching in Helsinki University of Technology, in the position of teaching assistant already since 1963, while still studying, and was an "acting professor" in 1968-69.
In addition to his teaching work, Helander has also worked as an architect. He has had his own office since 1968, but has been in partnership with architect Juha Leiviskä
Juha Leiviskä
Juha Ilmari Leiviskä is a prominent architect from Finland.- Life and career :The son of engineer Toivo Ilmari Leiviskä and teacher Sonja Jämsén-Astala, Leiviskä studied architecture at Helsinki University of Technology, qualifying as an architect in 1963...
since 1978, their firm being called Vilhelm Helander, Juha Leiviskä arkkitehdit SAFA.
Helander first came to public prominence with the polemical book Kenen Helsinki? (Whose Helsinki?) (1970), written jointly with architect Mikael Sundman. This was a period when the building rights for many urban centres in Finland had been raised, allowing both owners and property developers to build larger buildings, the consequence of which was the destruction of much of the old urban fabric. In many cases, the historic facades were preserved and new buildings with denser areas were built behind them. Helander and Sundman's book was one of the first publications to bring the destruction of the historical Helsinki to public attention. One of the main examples was the development of the neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
Helsinki City Hall being vastly modified by architect Aarno Ruusuvuori
Aarno Ruusuvuori
Aarno Emil Ruusuvuori was a Finnish architect, professor and director of the Museum of Finnish Architecture...
. The book was awarded the prestigious Eino Leino Prize
Eino Leino Prize
The Eino Leino Prize is an annual prize award to top writers in Finland since 1956, with particular emphasis on poets.-Recipients:*1956 Viljo Kajava*1957 Helvi Juvonen*1958 Rabbe Enckell*1959 Aapeli *1960 Olavi Paavolainen...
in 1971.
Helander went on to specialise in building conservation, both in teaching and in practice. Helander has also written widely on the subject of the history of Finnish architecture.
Helander is a member of the Finnish Association of Architects. He has been a member of a number of boards, including the Alvar Aalto
Alvar Aalto
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware...
Foundation (1997-2006), and the City of Helsinki city building inspection commission (1976-79, 1982-85).
He is married to Elisabeth Helander, Director of Community Initiatives and Innovative Actions of the Directorate-General for Regional Policy of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
.
A select list of building conservation and conversion works by Vilhelm Helander
- Old Students' HouseVanha YlioppilastaloVanha ylioppilastalo , colloquially called Vanha , is the former student house of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki, located in central Helsinki, Finland, near the crossing of Aleksanterinkatu and Mannerheimintie.The building was designed by Axel Hampus Dahlström and was completed in...
, Helsinki (1978-80) - SuomenlinnaSuomenlinnaSuomenlinna, until 1918 Viapori , or Sveaborg , is an inhabited sea fortress built on six islands , and which now forms part of the city of Helsinki, the capital of Finland.Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage site and popular with both tourists and locals, who...
Fortress island, Helsinki (1977; 2005-09) - School, kindergarten and clubhouse in KatajanokkaKatajanokkaKatajanokka is a neighbourhood of Helsinki, Finland, with around 4000 inhabitants in 2005. The district is located adjacent to the immediate downtown area, though in the first major town plan for Helsinki from the mid-18th century, the area fell outside the fortifications planned to encircle the...
, Helsinki (1980-85) - Finnish National Museum, Helsinki (1993-2000)
- Helsinki CathedralHelsinki CathedralHelsinki Cathedral is an Evangelical Lutheran cathedral of the Diocese of Helsinki, located in the centre of Helsinki, Finland. The church was originally built as a tribute to the Grand Duke, Nicholas I, the Tsar of Russia and until the independence of Finland in 1917, it was called St...
, Helsinki (1995-99) - House of the Estates, Helsinki (1985-93)
- PoriPoriPori is a city and municipality on the west coast of Finland. The city is located some from the Gulf of Bothnia, on the estuary of the Kokemäenjoki river, which is the largest in Finland. Pori is the most important town in the Satakunta region....
Town Hall (2000-08) - PorvooPorvooPorvoo is a city and a municipality situated on the southern coast of Finland approximately east of Helsinki. Porvoo is one of the six medieval towns in Finland, first mentioned as a city in texts from 14th century...
museums (2003-09)