Type Cultural Location Helsinki, Finland Construction started 1955 Opened 1958 | Architectural style Modern Current tenants Sodexo Completed 1958 Phone +358 9 7740270 | |
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Address Sturenkatu 4, 00510 Helsinki, Finland Similar Finlandia Hall - Helsinki, Tavastia Club, Helsinki Music Centre, Sibelius Hall - Lahti, Tampere Hall Profiles | ||
The House of Culture (In Finnish; Kulttuuritalo, In Swedish: Kulturhuset), is a building in Alppila, Helsinki. The building was designed by Alvar Aalto, and is considered to be one of his main works.
Contents
The building
The building combines a concert hall, an office building and a lecture-theatre block connecting the two. Uniting the whole, along the street frontage, is a 60-metre canopy.
History
The House of Culture was originally built for Finnish Communist cultural organizations. Aalto designed the building pro bono and was given complete artistic freedom; the construction work was done largely by volunteers. Work began in 1955, and the building was opened in 1958.
The building was owned by the Communist Party by a nonprofit foundation until the 1990, when the bankruptcy of the Finnish Communist Party forced its sale.
Today its owned by the government owned Senate Properties. The building is protected by a decision made by the Finnish Council of State in 1989.
Famous artists who have played in the venue include; Jimi Hendrix in 1967, Cream in 1967, Led Zeppelin in 1970, Frank Zappa & Queen in 1974, AC/DC in 1977, Ramones in 1977 and 1990, Tina Turner in 1982, Metallica in 1984, Hanoi Rocks and Leonard Cohen in 1985, Iron Maiden in 1995, Lady Gaga in 2009, Stratovarius and Helloween in 2010. Frank Zappa played 3 concerts in September 1974, that were released as an album in the early 90's.