Wivi Lönn
Encyclopedia
Wivi Lönn born as Olivia Mathilda Lönn was a Finnish architect. She was the first woman to be awarded the honorary title of "Professor" by the Finnish Association of Architects.
on May 20, 1872. Her father was Wilhelm Lönn, a local brewer, and her mother Mathilda Siren. After graduating from the Industrial School of Tampere she moved to Helsinki
. From 1893 to 1896 she studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Helsinki. During the same period, she won first prize in several architectural competitions. During her life she developed a close friendship with Hanna Parviainen, with whom she collaborated many times.
designed and built the Estonia Theatre
in the Art Nouveau style, and the Uusi Ylioppilastalo
. In 1913 she moved to Jyväskylä
, where she developed several architectural projects, among them a school, a factory, and several other buildings. In 1913 the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, designed by her, was also completed.
In the 1910s she designed the mansion in Jyväskylä of Alvar Aalto
, a well-known Finnish architect. The project was finished in 1915. In the 1920s she cooperated with Hanna Parviainen in many architectural projects in the area of Jyväskylä, such as nursery schools, health care stations, a church and a library. At the same time she designed and built the headquarters of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) in Helsinki. In 1945 the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, designed by her, was also completed. In 1956 she became the first woman to be awarded the honorary title of the "Professor" by the Finnish Association of Architects.
Wivi Lönn died on December 27, 1966 in Helsinki.
Early life and education
Olivia Mathilda Lönn was born in the village of Onkiniemi, near TampereTampere
Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It is the most populous inland city in any of the Nordic countries. The city has a population of , growing to approximately 300,000 people in the conurbation and over 340,000 in the metropolitan area. Tampere is the third most-populous municipality in...
on May 20, 1872. Her father was Wilhelm Lönn, a local brewer, and her mother Mathilda Siren. After graduating from the Industrial School of Tampere she moved to Helsinki
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...
. From 1893 to 1896 she studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Helsinki. During the same period, she won first prize in several architectural competitions. During her life she developed a close friendship with Hanna Parviainen, with whom she collaborated many times.
Later career
Her graduation from the university of Helsinki was followed by the establishment of her architectural office, making her the first independently practising female architect of Finland. In 1904 she won the first architectural prize in a contest of the School of Economics of Tampere. From 1909 to 1913 Wivi Lönn and Armas LindgrenArmas Lindgren
Armas Eliel Lindgren was Finnish architect, professor and painter.- Biography :Armas Lindgren was born in Hämeenlinna on November 28, 1874. He studied architecture in the Polytechnic Institute of Helsinki, from where he graduated in 1897. While being a student he collaborated with Josef Stenbäck...
designed and built the Estonia Theatre
Estonia Theatre
The Estonia Theater is an opera house and concert hall in Tallinn, Estonia.The Jugendstil building was designed by Finnish architects Armas Lindgren and Wivi Lönn. It was built as a national effort with the leadership of Estonia society in 1913 and was opened to the public on August 24th...
in the Art Nouveau style, and the Uusi Ylioppilastalo
Uusi Ylioppilastalo
Uusi Ylioppilastalo , colloquially Uusi , originally named Osakuntatalo , is the current student house of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki, located in central Helsinki, Finland, at Mannerheimintie 5, right next to Vanha Ylioppilastalo...
. In 1913 she moved to Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded...
, where she developed several architectural projects, among them a school, a factory, and several other buildings. In 1913 the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, designed by her, was also completed.
In the 1910s she designed the mansion in Jyväskylä of Alvar Aalto
Alvar Aalto
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware...
, a well-known Finnish architect. The project was finished in 1915. In the 1920s she cooperated with Hanna Parviainen in many architectural projects in the area of Jyväskylä, such as nursery schools, health care stations, a church and a library. At the same time she designed and built the headquarters of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) in Helsinki. In 1945 the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, designed by her, was also completed. In 1956 she became the first woman to be awarded the honorary title of the "Professor" by the Finnish Association of Architects.
Wivi Lönn died on December 27, 1966 in Helsinki.
Notable buildings
- Uusi YlioppilastaloUusi YlioppilastaloUusi Ylioppilastalo , colloquially Uusi , originally named Osakuntatalo , is the current student house of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki, located in central Helsinki, Finland, at Mannerheimintie 5, right next to Vanha Ylioppilastalo...
, 1910 - Korp! Sakala convent, 1911
- Estonia TheatreEstonia TheatreThe Estonia Theater is an opera house and concert hall in Tallinn, Estonia.The Jugendstil building was designed by Finnish architects Armas Lindgren and Wivi Lönn. It was built as a national effort with the leadership of Estonia society in 1913 and was opened to the public on August 24th...
, 1913 - Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, 1945