Helsinki: Baltic Beauty
A strong design aesthetic and a vibrant social scene are all part of Helsinki’s growing reputation as a must-see tourist destination, as Debbie Lewis discovers in the Long Weekend feature in the October issue
The Finns are renowned for their self-control and stoicism. This may be due to the long Arctic winters they have to endure, but also because until 1917 they had to tolerate being an occupied country.
Today, with nearly a century of independence behind them, named in international trends magazine Monocle as the worlds’ most liveable city and crowned the World Design Capital for 2012, Helsinki is finally, truly coming into its own.
The city’s inhabitants have an ability to let their hair down that defies the Finns’ reputation for restraint. In summer Helsinki’s parks are packed with people enjoying the sunshine, while in the winter the lakes and even the Baltic Ocean itself become vast skating rings.
Design is also at the heart of Helsinki, from its roots in traditional arts and crafts – which can still be purchased in the markets - to the towering, contemporary Finlandia Concert Hall. There are around 600 Art nouveau buildings, a dedicated design district and the house of modernist hero Alvar Aalto, open for public view as a living homage to his art.
