confessions of a design geek is off to Helsinki! I saw this film, applied and was selected as one of ten bloggers from over 350 applications to spend a week in Finland, courtesy of Visit Finland. I’ve been chosen for the “Architecture and Design in Helsinki” itinerary, staying a loft apartment in the centre of Helsinki and I can’t wait!
Other itineraries in Helsinki are: Summer in Helsinki, Lifestyle in Helsinki, Music in Helsinki and Food and Culture in Helsinki and the bloggers selected for these are: Kanaho Takahashi of Take a Side Trip, Han Jiang of Lost in Beijing, Lisa of Make my Lemonade and Mai of Superbytimai
Meanwhile in the archipelago, the itineraries are Culture and History in Archipelago, Food in Archipelago, Outdoors in Archipelago, Slow in Archipelago and Outdoors in Archipelago. The chosen bloggers for these itineraries are Audrey Bergner of That Backpacker, Samuel Jeffery of Nomadic Samuel, Lea Hajner of Tripwolf Blog / Escape Town, Silvia Fritsche of Reisedepeschen / Missia, Marina Toptygina, Marco Fiocchi of Travelblog and Matías Callone of 101 Lugares Increibles. Congratulations to all the selected bloggers!
I am an absolute Scandophile and have wanted to visit Helsinki ever since I became interested in design, but I was especially upset not to make it last year, when it was World Design Capital. So to visit Helsinki for a week immersed in architecture and design really is a dream come true for me. There’s no programme of activities, instead I’ll be provided with a list of recommendations for fab design-related things to do, so I can live like a local and explore at my own pace!
I’m looking forward to finding out more about Alvar Aalto. I love his work and I’ve had a quote from him above my desk for as long as I can remember: “I would only ask you not to forget to play.” I’m keen to find out more about Finland’s heritage in glass making and in particular Iittala. The Museum of Finnish Architecture has an exhibition on while I’m there called Light Houses: Young Nordic Architecture – featuring “the inspired approaches in young Nordic architecture through the works of 32 Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian architects,” which sounds really interesting. I’m looking forward to the food, the culture, the people… and of course Marimekko and maybe even a few Moomins!
If you’ve got any recommendations for things I should see or do, let me know in the comments below – thank you!
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- out and about :: citizen m
- out and about :: bethan gray inside design
- out and about :: architecture for humanity
- out and about :: craft central
Well Done Katie, have a lovely time and I look forward to reading your posts. x
Thanks Sam! I’m really looking forward to it!
Amazing! What an opportunity. Look forward to hearing all about what you get up to.
Thanks Michelle – I’m really looking forward to it!
You lucky thing. Helsinki is my favourite city to visit. Can I recommend you get a bus out to seurasari to see the amazing wooden buildings. The aalto cafe at the top of stockmans bookstore is good for apple strudel type stuff and coffee when you need a sit down. Oh, and getting the boat to the zoo is a little delight. They have bears and wolverines. And if you get too knackered from all the walking around, riding the trams is really good for seeing a whole load of different architecture. They all come back into the city before long so you can never get lost. Have a great trip. Looking forward to seeing your photos.
What a fantastic opportunity. Am I jealous – hell yes 😉 But seriously, am sure you’ll have a ball!
Ha ha – thanks Gerard! I promise to write lots of posts, so you enjoy it vicariously!