The House of Culture (Helsinki)

The House of Culture
Kulttuuritalo
General information
Type Cultural
Architectural style Modern
Location Helsinki, Finland
Address Sturenkatu 4
Coordinates 60°11′18″N 24°56′39″E / 60.18833°N 24.94417°E / 60.18833; 24.94417Coordinates: 60°11′18″N 24°56′39″E / 60.18833°N 24.94417°E / 60.18833; 24.94417
Current tenants Sodexo
Construction started 1955
Completed 1958
Owner Senate Properties
Design and construction
Architect Alvar Aalto

The House of Culture (In Finnish; Kulttuuritalo, In Swedish: Kulturhuset), is a building in Alppila, Helsinki. The building was designed by Alvar Aalto, and is considered to be one of his main works.

The building

The building combines a concert hall, an office building and a lecture-theatre block connecting the two. Uniting the whole, along the street frontage, is a 60-metre canopy.[1]

History

The House of Culture was originally built for Finnish Communist cultural organizations. Aalto designed the building pro bono and was given complete artistic freedom; the construction work was done largely by volunteers. Work began in 1955, and the building was opened in 1958.

The building was owned by the Communist Party by a nonprofit foundation until the 1990, when the bankruptcy of the Finnish Communist Party forced its sale.

Today its owned by the government owned Senate Properties. The building is protected by a decision made by the Finnish Council of State in 1989.

Famous artists who have played in the venue include; Jimi Hendrix in 1967, Cream in 1967, Led Zeppelin in 1970, Frank Zappa & Queen in 1974, AC/DC in 1977, Ramones in 1977 and 1990, Tina Turner in 1982, Metallica in 1984, Hanoi Rocks and Leonard Cohen in 1985, Iron Maiden in 1995, Lady Gaga in 2009, Stratovarius and Helloween in 2010. Frank Zappa played 3 concerts in September 1974, that were released as an album in the early 90's.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/houseofculture/index.html

Further reading

External links

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