The Otaniemi Chapel
The International Carlo Scarpa Prize for Gardens 2009
edited by Domenico Luciani and Patrizia Boschiero
Fondazione Benetton Studi Ricerche
Treviso 2009
128 pages
98 illustrations in colour and 64 black and white
available on request from the Foundation
the Italian edition is also available
A small masterpiece by the architects Kaija (1920-2001) and Heikki (1918-2013) Siren, the Otaniemi Chapel has stood since the mid-1900s in a forest glade on the highest point of the peninsula to which the distinguished Helsinki University of Technology was moved at around the same time.
The masterly simplicity and transparency of the building draws revelation of the sacred from nature and confers sense and measure on a space that provides an educational experience, spiritual and social, cultural and musical, for the entire community of families and students. Nature, architecture and society thus come together in this remarkable crucible of form and life.
Contents
The International Carlo Scarpa Prize for Gardens 1990-2009, 4
Regulations and Jury, 6
The Otaniemi Chapel. Jury report, 8
Otaniemen Kappeli. Tuomariston perustelut, 14
Cappella di Otaniemi. Motivazione della giuria, 21
Heikki Siren, Wood, Nature and Architecture, 26
Juha Lassila, Nature, Cross and Community, 29
The Churches in Finland (editorial note), 31
Speech given by Matti Pursula, Principal of the University of Technology, Otaniemi, 32
Massimo Venturi Ferriolo, Naturbild, 34
Finland (editorial note), 36
Eugenio Turri, …That magic maze of water, 41
Laura Kolbe, An eastern or western capital city? The spirit of Helsinki and Otaniemi, 52
Staffan Lodenius, The Chapel and Campus of Otaniemi, 73
Juhani Pallasmaa, The spaces and images of faith. The Finnish church as an experience, 93
Kaija and Heikki Siren architects, 107
List of works, 108
Heikki Siren. The architect who prevails over time, from an interview with Anni Vartola, 113
Bibliography, 116
References for illustrations, 123
The International Carlo Scarpa Prize for Gardens 2009, 124
