5 reasons anyone interested in design & architecture should visit Helsinki

Voted one of the 100 Greatest Places in the World by TIME Magazine, this large sculptural sauna made entirely from pine wood is a serene sanctuary by the Helsinki waterfront less than two kilometer's from the city centre. Loyly is designed by Finnish Avanto Architects with interior by Joanna Laajisto, and the sauna is open to the public with an entrance ticket available to purchase at around 20 euro. 

 

With this, you earn two hours access to the sauna as well as a towel, seat liner, shampoo and conditioner. Whilst changing rooms and showers are separated, the saunas and public spaces are for all, and bathing suits are mandatory. Loyly’s three different saunas are all wood-heated and you can always jump in the sea before or after; in winter, an ‘avanto’ (the popular hole in the icea) is made for the winter swimmers. Opened in 2016, the grey pine wood of Loyly’s stands as a resemblance of a huge rock on the Helsinki shoreline, and is a popular spot amongst locals all year round.

Finland ranks as the second most literate country in the world, and public libraries are far from old buildings with dusty books inside. The country’s flagship public library, Oodi Library is designed by Finnish studio ALA Architects and was completed in 2018. Oodi is designed to bring together the entire city, and takes visiting a library to the next level with its in-house cinema, coffee shop, recording studio and creative makerspace. The striking building has a glass and steel structure whilst the elegant wooden facade results in an energy-efficient architectural sight located just across from the Finnish parliament. The light-filled library attracts all kinds of visitors; students, young families with children, tourists quietly taking in the surroundings, and locals finding their next read. During summer, the huge balcony on the top floor opens up with a view to the outside square and city.

In the heart of Helsinki, café and restaurant Savoy is housed inside an elegant art deco building. First opened in 1937 on the wide esplanade, the interior of the restaurant was designed by Alvar and Aino Aalto bringing their modern functionalism to every detail. The restaurant has recently undergone a careful renovation by world-renowned designer Ilse Crawford in collaboration with ARTEK, Helsinki Museum and the Alvar Aalto Foundation, using only original and vintage ARTEK designs. 

 

Upstairs, the restaurant mentioned in Guide Michelin is led by Chef Patron Helena Puolakka, and serves a Finnish-French menu from seasonal ingredients in an informal, but elegant setting. With a terrace overlooking the city and a warm, old-world vibe from the classic interiors, it’s easy to imagine the decades of historical dinner parties taking place between the Helsinki intellectual elite. Downstairs, with large windows to the esplanade is the inviting Café Savoy; a beautifully designed light-filled room offering a menu inspired by Southern French cuisine. Designed by Studio Joanna Laajisto, bespoke furniture, vintage elements and foliage hanging from the ceiling create a beautiful and timeless atmosphere.

Located in the heart of town just a few minutes’ walk from Helsinki Central Station, the Radisson RED is the first of its kind in Helsinki, and the perfect base to explore the city from. This modernist building designed by famous Finnish architecture company Anttinen Oiva Arkkitehdit overlooks the city’s oldest park, the Kaisaniemi which greets guests with a stunning view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows at the hotel’s welcoming floor. 

 

Within walking distance to many sights and hotspots, including the Oodi Library, the Savoy and Chapel of Silence mentioned in this guide, as well as shopping street Keskuskatu, finding a contemporary design hotel with a better location is hard to come by in Helsinki. With stylish and spacious rooms, guests can enjoy free wifi, complimentary coffee in both the rooms and lobby, and visit the well-equipped gym downstairs. The cosy bar and restaurant is always lively with both hotel guests and locals enjoying coffee, drinks and food. The morning buffet has everything desirable from a lavish breakfast (including your choice of omelet prepared by the chef), and a direct train connection takes you to and from the airport in about 30 minutes from the central station.