For over 10 years now, Finnish architecture and design have been celebrated on 3 February. This year, the day is an official flag day recommended by the Ministry of the Interior. The City of Helsinki will also raise flags at its locations to remind everyone of the importance of good architecture and design in our daily lives.
Ten years ago, in 2012, Finnish architecture was celebrated for the first time on Alvar Aalto’s birthday, 3 February. In the same year, Helsinki was the World Design Capital together with the cities of Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen and Lahti. The day has gradually expanded into a common celebration of architecture and design with rich programmes.
“Helsinki’s World Design Capital year 2012 was the starting point for the extensive use of design in developing the city. Over the past 10 years, design has earned a permanent place as one of Helsinki’s core functions. The new flag day is an excellent time to remind people of the importance of architecture and design in the construction of good life and a city of equality,” says Hanna Harris, Chief Design Officer at the City of Helsinki.
This year, the Finnish Architecture and Design Day will for the first time be celebrated by flying the flag. On the basis of an initiative by operators and organisations in the sector, the Ministry of the Interior has decided to recommend flying the flag on 3 February to celebrate Alvar and Aino Aalto as well as Finnish architectural and design expertise.
Finnish architecture and design operators are organising the Finnish Architecture and Design Days on 3–6 February around Finland and online. This year, the theme of the days is sustainable culture, drawing attention to how architecture and design create ecologically, socially, economically and aesthetically sustainable environments and objects. The main event of the Architecture and Design Days at Helsinki City Hall on 4 February at 15:00–17:00 can be followed live on the Helsinki Channel.
Read more
Helsinki’s design activities on the design.hel.fi website
Ministry of the Interior’s bulletin on flying the flag (in Finnish)
Programme for the Architecture and Design Days 3–6 February (in Finnish)
Photo: Paavo Jantunen