Finlandia Hall, Concert hall in Töölönlahti, Finland
Finlandia Hall is a concert venue and convention center on the shore of Töölönlahti bay in Helsinki, designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto with white marble panels covering the outer walls. The complex combines a tall main auditorium with a lower congress wing, both topped with flat or gently sloped roofs that open toward the waterfront.
Alvar Aalto designed the building in the late 1960s as part of a broader urban plan for central Helsinki. The first section opened in 1971, followed by the congress wing completed between 1973 and 1975.
The Main Auditorium seats 1700 people and regularly presents classical music performances, international conferences, and significant cultural gatherings in the Finnish capital.
The main entrance faces Mannerheimintie, a short walk from the city center, with views across the bay and adjacent park. Guided tours can be booked on select days, and a café is open to visitors when no events are scheduled.
The 1975 OSCE Summit held here brought together 35 heads of state from Europe, North America, and the Soviet Union, shaping the building's place in international memory. During the multi-day conference, participants discussed security, economic cooperation, and human rights amid the Cold War.
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