Helsinki Central Railway Station, Railway station in Kluuvi, Finland
The granite building features a 48-meter (157-foot) clock tower and four monumental statues holding spherical lamps positioned on either side of the main entrance. The facade displays elements of National Romanticism with geometric ornamentation and Nordic motifs. Interior spaces combine functional layout with decorative details from the construction period. The arrangement guides passengers through multiple halls toward the platforms.
The first station opened at this location in 1862 for the Helsinki-Hämeenlinna railway line. Following an architectural competition in 1904, Eliel Saarinen received the commission for the new structure. Construction began in 1905 and continued despite interruptions from World War I until completion in 1919. Renovations have occurred multiple times to accommodate increasing passenger volumes.
Eliel Saarinen's design merges Art Nouveau with Finnish National Romanticism, establishing a defining example of Finnish architectural identity in the early twentieth century. The building became a national symbol of modernity and technical progress. It continues to shape Helsinki's urban character today.
The facility serves roughly 200,000 daily passengers across 19 platforms, connecting local and long-distance trains with metro and bus lines. The station is centrally located and accessible for people with mobility needs. Service counters, shops and waiting areas occupy the main building. Architectural details are easier to observe outside rush hours. The Forum Shopping Center adjoins the station directly.
The site occupies the former Kluuvinlahti bay, which was filled during the 1830s through extensive land reclamation operations. These works created the foundation for later railway construction and permanently altered Helsinki's coastline. Archaeological investigations have documented remains of the original sea bay beneath the current station area.
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