Finlandia Hall

Finlandia Hall Has Finally Reopened In Helsinki After Three-Year Renovations

Once known primarily as an invitation-only concert and conference venue, this legendary Helsinki landmark has reopened after three years of extensive €136 million renovation works and now aims to operate as a multi-purpose space that locals and visitors can access daily without restrictions. The restoration began with replacing its distinctive façade, whose 11,000 marble tiles had been plagued by cracks since the building was completed in 1971; new marble has been sourced from northern Italy, and NRT Architects, who carried out the project, believe it could last at least 50 years. A wine café and a new bistro (set to open this month) have been added, and a permanent exhibition dedicated to the original designer, Finnish modernist architect Alvar Aalto, will open in June, including homages to his collaborators and his two wives, Aino and Elissa Aalto. Other exhibitions will feature work by prominent Finnish artists such as Susanna Majuri and Birger Kaipiainen, and the building even now includes two apartments available for overnight stays, underscoring its evolution from a traditional concert hall into a broader cultural and social hub. - Liv Kelly