Oil Silo 468, Light art installation in Kruunuvuorenranta, Finland
Oil Silo 468 is a former industrial storage tank made of steel at Kruunuvuorenranta in eastern Helsinki that now functions as a public art installation. Its steel shell features thousands of openings that allow light to pass through and create changing effects depending on the time of day.
The structure dates from when Helsinki operated as an oil harbor that supplied fuel to ships passing through the region. In 2012, when the city earned the designation of World Design Capital, the conversion into an artistic project began.
The structure takes its name from the oil terminal that once occupied this site and now serves as a symbol of Helsinki's industrial past transformed into art. Visitors see it as a gateway to understanding how the city has reinvented itself.
Visits inside are available only on certain weekends, mainly during September and October when the site opens to the public. It works best to go during daytime hours when natural light flows through the openings and creates the most visible effects.
Despite its industrial origin, the interior walls were painted deep red, creating a striking contrast with the steel gray exterior surfaces. This unexpected color choice adds an emotional dimension to the visit that might be overlooked at first glance.
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