Finland became independent in 1917, i.e., the country has only about 100 years of history. Before that, Finland had been part of the Russian Empire, and before that, it had been part of Sweden for about 700 years. Knowing such a short history of Finland helps us understand the things we see and experience in Finland much better.
“History” might sound boring, but if you knew even a little bit of history, the things in front of you—sights, food, lifestyle, people—could become more interesting, I think.
I made the above timeline and included 2018, when the central library of Helsinki, Oodi, was opened. Oodi was built to celebrate 100 years of Finland’s independence, and it’s one of the sights you shouldn’t miss in Helsinki for many reasons. I will write about it in another post.
Temppeliaukio Church in Helsinki, known for its unique architecture, attracts many visitors. Although I had been there many times, I decided to join a 15-minute guided tour, hoping to get to know something new.
Temppeliaukio Church, known as the Rock Church, is unique in its architecture. It serves not only as a Lutheran church (for services, weddings, baptisms, funerals, etc.) but also frequently as a concert venue for organ, orchestra, piano, and choral performances. It is a popular tourist attraction as well.
The unique fact I got to know is that there had been three design competitions to build this church. The first competitions was held in 1930s but the jury wasn’t satisfied. The second competition helf four year later didn’t have a winner but the jury decided to build the church designed by J.S. Siren, a famous architect who also designed many other famous buildings including the Finnish Parliament House. The chosen design was a conventional church, far from the rock-carved church we know today. The construction started in November 1939 but was halted just three days later since the Winter War started.
Finland’s largest newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat featured the church showing what it would have looked like if the church had been built as originally planned—far from today’s Temppeliaukio Church.
The church construction didn’t continue even after the war and in 1961, the thirs competition was held. The design by the Suomalainen brothers, Timo and Tuomo, was selected, and construction began in February 1968 and it was completed in September 1969. The unique design and cost led to much social criticism, delaying the start of construction during construction. However, after its completion, public opinion shifted, and the church was filled to capacity for the first Sunday service.
Temppeliaukio Church is built into a hard rock (granite) . The ceiling and the roof are made of copper and it’s interesting to notice that copper in the roof has oxidized to an emerald green color. There are 180 skylights and the light through them changes the atmosphere the weather, the time of the day or season change.
The architects prioritized incorporating natural elements into the design. The church includes natural rock walls, natural light, natural water flowing on the walls, and the original terrain of the site.
Previously, entry to the church was free, but now there is an admission fee of 8 euros. For those who have never visited, I highly recommend it, as there is no other church quite like it. Attendance at services is free, but one cannot walk around or take photos during services. By the way, the 15-minute guided tour cost an additional 5 euros on top of the entrance fee. For me, the tour was worth more than the 5 euros spent.
