home Other countries Unusual things in Helsinki are the Strawberry Monument and the Chapel of Silence. Sights of Helsinki: Kamppi Chapel of Silence Kamppi Chapel of Silence

Unusual things in Helsinki are the Strawberry Monument and the Chapel of Silence. Sights of Helsinki: Kamppi Chapel of Silence Kamppi Chapel of Silence

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Of course, the Kamppi Chapel of Silence is noticeably different from classical structures of this kind and bears little resemblance to a real chapel. There are no services or mass religious ceremonies held here, but the main philosophical meaning of this institution is fully consistent with its status. The chapel was built in 2012 according to the design of the capital's architectural bureau K2S and was intended as a monastery for people of all faiths. Now the Kamppi Chapel exists under the patronage of the Helsinki parish administration and the city Department of Social Welfare. The building covers an area of 352 square meters. m. It houses a chapel with a sacristy, a foyer, an office, a small reception room, a spacious wardrobe, a toilet and a number of other rooms.

A separate advantage of this unusual architectural object is the abundance of wood, thanks to which a pleasant, relaxing atmosphere is created inside. Comfortable wooden benches are equipped especially for visitors in the chapel, and if desired, guests can take soft gray pillows made in the shape unusual stones. The ceiling is made of plasterboard, and light, due to the already mentioned lack of windows, leaks along the curved walls, through a wide ceiling hatch cut out along the entire perimeter. Fluorescent lamps are also installed under the ceiling. For those praying in the Kamppi Chapel of Silence, an altar is made, where there is a silver altar cross created by the Finnish needleworker Antti Nieminen.

The building has 2 entrances, designed in the form of elegant glass facades overlooking Narinkkatori Square and the Glass Palace. From the very first day of its appearance, the Kamppi Chapel of Silence gained great popularity among guests and residents, becoming one of its main attractions. On this moment, the building is an integral part architectural ensemble Narinkatori Square and serves as a must-have photo shoot for most tourists.

…The Chapel of Silence appeared in the city center in the spring of 2012, during the Year of Design, and quite unexpectedly, like out of a magician’s hat.
...Entering the Chapel, people for some reason begin to try their best to feign unbearable reverence and remember the rules of unimaginable politeness. Despite the worthy idea, you are unlikely to be able to stay in silence...
...What a wonderful idea - to erect a monument to strawberries! You have to figure this out! And tell me now that Finns are pragmatic crackers, not romantics!)

I'm in and

CHAPEL OF SILENCE IN KAMPPI

This facility was built in the spring of 2012, and I would like to note that the appearance of this uniquely shaped structure on central square Narinkkatori, next to the bus station/shopping mall/Kamppi metro station, was quite spectacular. It's like coming out of a magician's hat. The Finns, it should be noted, are quite conservative and think for a very long time in terms of the appearance of any new object in the familiar city landscape.

What can I say about the Chapel? The information is fairly standard.
1) Built in the “Year of Design” and is intended to serve as proof of the fact that Helsinki is the “capital of design”;
2) Architects - Mikko Summanen, Kimmo Lintula and Niko Sirola;
3) The outside wood is bent spruce impregnated with wax, and the inside is black alder. Ash furniture.
Adjacent to the wooden structure is a rectangle of glass and concrete, creating a rather unexpected contrast of antagonism of materials.

Conceptually, the Chapel of Silence is designed to “not allow the noise and bustle of the outside world to penetrate inside, in order to allow visitors to turn their gaze to the spiritual world.”

The chapel is open on weekdays 7:00-20:00, on weekends 10:00-18:00. The entrance is free.

Entering the Chapel, people for some reason begin to feign unbearable reverence with all their might and remember the rules of unimaginable politeness. Despite the worthy idea, you are unlikely to be able to stay in silence, since someone is constantly entering or leaving, shutters click, bags fall, soles squeak, someone sneezes or has a criminal cough, phones ring, etc., bringing in unexpected people. sound noise producers are in a state of extreme embarrassment.

I call this building the Glass.
Personally, my relationship with the Glass of Silence did not quite work out. Because before I had time to slip inside with a face depicting an unprecedented degree of decency and decorously land on the ash bench, they first sang my sms three times, then the phone let out a cheerful jingle, ruining the process of communicating with this very silence for everyone around me. As luck would have it! It was very uncomfortable...
In addition, having angrily turned off the phone, I could not catch the moment of shavasana; my head was busy thinking about how to use the room more practically. For some reason I thought that a cylindrical room would be perfect for stunts. Vzhzhi, vzhzhzhie, how cool it would be to see mad motorcyclists here!!!...*shucks her head into her shoulders*…

MONUMENT TO STRAWBERRY

I love it. What a wonderful idea - to erect a monument to strawberries! You have to figure this out!
I came across it completely by accident.
Located in the very center. Approximately opposite the building next to which the sculpture is located, across the road there is the well-known equestrian monument to Mannerheim and the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, so it’s easy to find.
Sculptor - Jukka Lehtinen.
Year of construction - 2007 .
What is most surprising is that this is a meaningful sculpture. The Finns have a proverb similar to ours: “Away is good, but home is better,” which goes like this: "Oma maa mansikka, muu maa mustikka" - “One’s own land is strawberries, someone else’s is blueberries”.
I remember how surprised I was when, while removing silver metal berries and flowers, I accidentally looked down. The spring snow on the lawn where the strawberry plant was already melting, and suddenly I saw real green strawberry leaves! And tell me now that Finns are pragmatic crackers, not romantics!)))

Opposite, through the branches of the trees, a monument to Mannerheim is visible

How touching!

And here is such a strawberry lawn here in the summer! Please note that this is the CENTER of Helsinki!)

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Not much in the capital of Finland historical places, and in this regard, Helsinki is inferior not only to its Scandinavian neighbor - Stockholm, but also to its Baltic comrades - Tallinn and Riga.

But in some ways, Helsinki is completely on par with many European capitals: for example, in original religious buildings, the likes of which are in Europe, but what about in Europe, there are only a few in the world.

We have already talked about amazing church, carved directly into granite rock, in the article “

Our story today is about another, no less interesting and original attraction of Helsinki - the Kamppi Chapel of Silence.

The chapel was designed by Finnish architects who worked on the Helsinki: World Design Capital 2012 program. Let us note that the project intrigued many even before its implementation.

The constructed building attracts attention with its unusual architectural form, at the same time simple and original design solution - it is a spacious wooden structure with no windows, and in appearance it resembles the shape of an egg or part of a ship.

Thanks to its unusual design and good location in the city center, the Chapel of Silence has become very popular among both tourists and local residents— within six months after its opening, about a quarter of a million people visited it!

The purpose of the chapel is to help you retire, be alone with yourself and psychologically relax. Coupled with the magical, unusual shape of the building, a visit to the chapel has a therapeutic effect.

Interestingly, the chapel does not belong to any particular denomination - its doors are open both to believers professing any religion and to hard-core materialists. The different types of wood from which the walls of the chapel were built also help to tune in and gain peace just from being inside.

You can sit on wooden benches or on ottomans, which resemble stone boulders in color and shape, which brings to mind a comparison with another Finnish celebrity - the sauna.

Light penetrates inside through a specially shaped slot in the roof, creating a very subdued, cozy background.

Entrance to the chapel is free; those who wish can leave donations.

Working hours: on weekdays 07.00 - 20.00, on weekends 10.00 - 18.00.

Chapel address: Simonsgatan 7 00100 Helsingfors

Getting to the chapel is not difficult: it is located in the city center, close to the train station.

From our own experience, we note that the room has a special aura; while inside you are completely immersed in your inner world, problems fade into the background, and a kind of “reboot” of thoughts occurs.

One of our compatriots, after visiting the chapel, left the following review, which, in our opinion, most closely describes the feelings that arise when visiting it:

“This is something truly Finnish. A room made of wood where you can sit in silence in the city center. There are strange objects lying around. There is a feeling of slight claustrophobia. The senselessness is astonishing. You understand that you don’t understand anything, and probably this is above you and there is some deep meaning that you didn’t understand..”

Chapel of Silence Kamppi (Kampin kappeli/Kamppi Chapel of Silence ) - a small sanctuary of tranquility in the middle of the busy Narinkka Square, near the metro station and shopping center Kamppi and bus station Helsinki. By appearance and you won’t guess what kind of windowless structure this is, its architecture is so unusual, reminiscent of either a wooden bowl, or an egg, or a ship (perhaps even a spaceship).

The Chapel of Silence is not only the quintessence of minimalist Finnish design (the project was even awarded a prestigious architectural award!), but also a special place in design: it is conceived as a cocoon of solitude and peace, a refuge for quiet prayer or confidential conversation, giving everyone in need a respite from the city noise and bustle.

Chapel of Silence and its philosophy. An oasis of calm in the center of Helsinki

Helsinki, maybe not the largest European capital, but this city is sometimes too tiring. Finns and city visitors can now find refuge from the crowds and turmoil in Kamppi Chapel of Silence, built in 2012 on Narinkka Square ( Narinkka/Narinkkatori) according to a local project architectural bureauK2S.

Strictly speaking, this is not even really a chapel, but a place for healing souls: services and other religious ceremonies are not held here (only periodic prayer services), but social workers, priests and psychologists are on duty, ready from morning to evening to talk with anyone about their problems and provide assistance.

The Kamppi Chapel of Silence is not associated with a particular religion. Everyone is welcome here, regardless of their religiosity and worldview.

Who built the Chapel of Silence and when? Brief history of the chapel

Chapel of Silence Kamppi, otherwise called the chapel or chapel of silence, was built as part of the " Helsinki: World capital design – 2012» ( World Design Capital). The capital of Finland received this honorary title by decision of the International Council of Industrial Design (ICSID).

The initiative to build a chapel on Narinkka Square came from the Helsinki City Planning Department, which organized the architectural competition. The client was the Association of Parishes of Helsinki ( Helsinginseurakuntayhtymä). The parish unions of Espoo and Vantaa also took part in planning the future activities of the chapel. Currently, the chapel is jointly managed by the parishes of Helsinki and the city's Department of Social Welfare.

Chapel under construction (photo from website):

Unusual project wooden chapel in the center of Helsinki developed Finnish architects Mikko Summanen, Kimmo Lintula and Nico Sirola ( Mikko Summanen, Kimmo Lintula, Niko Sirola) from architectural bureauK2S.

The architectural and design solution of the building aroused the interest of specialists even before its construction. In 2010, the project, which had not yet been implemented at that time, was awarded international architectural prize International Architecture Awards. This competition is organized by the Chicago Athenaeum, a museum of architecture and design ( Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design).

Due to its unusual shape and proximity to the shopping area chapel of silence has gained incredible popularity among residents Helsinki and tourists immediately after opening. In the first six months, about 250 thousand people visited it.

Many people visit the chapel to admire the original design and soak up the peaceful atmosphere, but many also come to satisfy spiritual needs: to pray or receive spiritual and psychological help.

Journalists called the chapel of silence new architectural landmark of Helsinki and noted that this project “ proves how exciting and exhilarating modern architecture can be at its best» .

Thus, a modest-sized building turned into one of the most visited religious buildings in Finland.

Kamppi Chapel of Silence as an example of modern Finnish architecture

The Kamppi Chapel of Silence is interesting not only for its design, but also for its extraordinary architectural design, as well as its special atmosphere.

The Lutheran Church of Finland generally has a favorable attitude towards modern architecture. An example of this is the famous Church in the Rock (Tempeliaukio) (1969). But the project chapels of silence It is notable for the fact that it is not only and not so much a religious building, but a spiritual and social center, the fruit of cooperation between the church and the city authorities. It is no coincidence that in the chapel you can talk to both the priest and the social worker. This is a completely new concept, which is reflected in the architecture and symbolism of the building (photo source:).

According to the chief architect Mikko Summanena, the architecture and geometry of the chapel were determined precisely by its purpose and urban planning position, and not by religious traditions. " Traditional churches are now experiencing difficulties in all Western countries. It is necessary to find new forms of communicating with people and helping them. In the case of Kamppi Chapel, this goal is achieved by creating a public space of silence and contemplation next to one of the busiest business districts in Finland» .

Both the shape of the building and the choice of material are unusual. In the 21st century, when glass, concrete and plastic dominate everywhere, in the center European city suddenly an object appears wooden architecture, albeit futuristic in outline.

It must be said that recently wood has regained popularity in Finland as a building material. The reason is the attractive construction properties of wood and its reputation as an environmentally friendly material with a minimal level of harmful emissions.

In accordance with the traditions of the national Finnish architecture, all wood, used to decorate the facade and interior of the chapel, is local. It was delivered from forests located within a radius of 200 km from the construction site. The environmentally friendly design is also manifested in low energy consumption, which is achieved through dense insulation, a well-thought-out lighting, ventilation and air conditioning system.

The tiny chapel's curving façade is constructed from rows of horizontal bent spruce slats and finished with nanotech transparent pigmented wax. The frame of the building is made of massive beams made of laminated pine timber.

The construction of the chapel turned out to be a very non-trivial task for the company Vahanen, which was engaged in the design of building structures. The chapel is different from standard buildings. Its shape is unique, and all elements and their joints had to be made to individual measurements.

Shape of the chapel of silence and her symbolism can be interpreted in different ways: someone compares it with Noah's Ark. Someone talks about a wooden bowl, a flower pot or " vase for the soul" Architect Mikko Summanen notes that due to the specific texture of the facade, the chapel resembles the side of a ship. Another common version is a comparison with egg.

The egg-shaped shape is perfect for places of worship. It is known that the idea of the egg as one of the most important religious symbols existed already in ancient times, in pagan times. In many world cultures, the egg is considered a symbol of new life, fertility and rebirth.

Where is the Chapel of Silence?

The Chapel of Silence has an egg-shaped plan and is located southeast of the shopping center Kamppi and north of the street Simonkatu- one of the main city arteries. Situation plan and top view:

The authors of the project deliberately chose a location for the chapel in the midst of a bustling area Kamppi, on the south side of Narinkka Square ( Narinkka/Narinkkatori), in close proximity to the metro station Kamppi and the shopping center of the same name ( cm. location of the chapel on the map).

Kamppi- the business and shopping center of Helsinki, one of the busiest areas of the city, and the meaning of the chapel is to give peace and solitude in the midst of this hustle and bustle, to escape at least for a while from the world of shopping centers, banks and offices. Thanks to its streamlined shape, the chapel organically merged with the urban landscape and, despite its small size, turned into a semantic center of the surrounding development.

You can approach the chapel from any direction. If you go from the street Simonkatu, you find yourself in a small square in front of Narinkka Square. From there you need to go down the stairs to the entrance to the chapel (photo source:).

The two entrances are located in glass facades facing, respectively, Narinkka Square and the Glass Palace ( Lasipalatsi).

Opening hours of the Kamppi Chapel of Silence: the chapel is open to the public on weekdays from 08:00 to 20:00; on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.

Entrance to the chapel is free.

Photograph Silence is allowed in the chapel, but without flashing.

Divine services, weddings, baptisms and other church ceremonies are not held in the chapel, but you can come here for a personal conversation with a parish representative (priest) or a social worker. You can light a candle, buy postcards.

The schedule of prayer services, concerts and other events is provided at

In the capital of Finland, in the Kamppi district on Narinkkatori Square, amid the city noise, there is a small oasis of complete calm - the chapel of silence. This small temple is located in the city center on a bustling street near the bus station, shopping center and popular cafes. Thousands of tourists also come here to visit one of the city's most unusual attractions. Races and festivals often take place on the track near the chapel. To get away from the bustling capital of Finland and feel some peace, visit the Chapel of Silence in Kamppi. The main disadvantage of this place is also associated with tourists - having become widely known outside Finland, the chapel of silence has ceased to be a quiet place. However, this attraction is worth your attention, especially if you are already in Helsinki.

The chapel project was developed by the architectural studio K2S in 2008, and the structure was officially opened in 2012. The architects of the Chapel of Silence are Kimmo Lintula, Niko Sirola and Mikko Summanen, and the initiator of the construction was the city municipality, which set itself the goal of improving the quality of life of Finns.

Despite the high standard of living in the 1990s, the capital of Finland was also known as the “city of suicides”, and now the state ranks 33rd in the ranking of the number of suicides among countries in the world. The main reason is not the standard of living, but the atmosphere, because the country has a minimum number of sunny days, lack of warmth and low level of religiosity. All this leads to depression, which not everyone immediately pays due attention to. This problem was not resolved for several years until local authorities approved a project for a chapel of silence, which would become a light-filled place where one could be alone with oneself. Yellow resembles a sunny sky and gives the place a special coziness, and the curved shape of the structure seems to embrace all visitors. There are also stones inside, from which you can make a bed and sit on the floor.

It is noteworthy that no religious services are held in this building, and the place is more suitable for meditation. Also at the entrance there are social workers and clergy who are ready to talk with everyone. You can also join a project that works on this attraction as a volunteer.

What to see in the Chapel of Silence in Kamppi

The small yellow building on the south side of the square is clearly distinguished from other modern buildings by its architectural features and the purpose of construction. The outer side of the chapel is made of bent spruce slats, which were treated with glaze wax, and you can enter the structure through a special glass entrance.

The interior of the chapel is finished in black alder, and there is also ash furniture. The main decoration of the chapel, which tourists can see inside, is a silver crucifix on the pulpit. The altar is the work of jeweler Antti Nieminen, and the textile decoration is the work of artist Tiina Uimonen. Sunlight enters the building through special slots and creates a special calming atmosphere, which is conducive to quiet time, meditation and philosophical thoughts.

The architects were given the main task before construction, which was to completely cut off city noise. Silence should help visitors hear themselves and make the right decisions, as well as listen to their own desires.

Address

The Chapel of Silence is located at: Finland, Helsinki, Simonkatu.

How to get there

To get to the Chapel of Silence in the Kampi area, you need to get to the Kampin metroasema metro station, or you can take a bus or tram to the Simonkatu stop.

This attraction is located on Narinkkatori Square.