One of the many fort walls going around the island’s weak points. The stone walls appeared to be at least three metres thick. No surprises it’s still standing after all those wars.
Oh yea, and that gate is a human powered drawbridge, with its doors lowered.
As I went around the island, I realised it’s truly an open museum. This place has artifacts from medieval forts (with moats and drawbridge) to WWII anti-aircraft guns.
This is also one to break the myth that I had flawless planning and execution in my pilgrimage. I didn’t premeditate this one. In fact, I didn’t even know we were walking by a Steven Holl building until Jeff pointed it out to me.
The Classic Steven Holl Stunt, a curved lightwell ramp. Looked huge from the outside but as you can see, it’s not that big inside. Which goes to show how design can easily affect perception of scale.
Wish I had a paper crown at this point.
Panorama from the lake
On the other end of the scale, one of Aalto’s biggest civic buildings the Finlandia Hall. In fact, this is the only one finished building of an entire urban renewal scheme planned for Helsinki.
Up close, the famous 3cm Carrara marble slabs bending problems are much more apparent in real life.
Outside Art Installation made from Old Farming Equipment
The building still feels incredibly relevant despite its age. In fact, as time goes by I’m drawing more and more parallels – such as with Snøhetta’s opera house.
a young capricious bloke with a penchant for the strange, unknown, and exotic. Here lies the journals of my worldly travels, as I trot around the globe in search of adventure!
