An engaging snapshot of young Finnish architecture talent is currently on show at Frankfurt's Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM). The German institution has teamed up with the Museum of Finnish Architecture (MFA) and the Architecture Information Centre Finland for 'Suomi Seven: Emerging Architects from Finland', an exhibition marking the Nordic country's presence as guest of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair this year.
The nation is known for its system of open competitions that allows emerging architects to showcase work and go head-to-head with seasoned practices for the country's most lucrative architecture projects. This has given many young architects the chance to build an impressive body of work in the early stages of their career.
Curated by Peter Cachola Schmal and Anna Scheuermann of DAM and MFA director Juulia Kauste, the exhibition is a careful selection of firms that have similarly built an internationally acclaimed portfolio - despite their young age. Participating practices ALA Architects, Anttinen Oiva Architects, Avanto Architects, Esa Ruskeepää Architects, OOPEAA, Architects Rudanko + Kankkunen and Verstas Architects have all been distinguished for their exciting work that ranges from cultural to residential and education projects.
Explains Schmal, 'Together with Juulia Kauste, I sought out talented and young architectural studios that have indeed created astonishing and major projects under their own name, and where the architects are this side of 40, something which sadly is hardly to be encountered back home in Germany any more.'
Running until early 2015 and accompanied by a book, the show launched with a symposium last week discussing further the work of Finland's finest young architecture stars.
Kaisa House, Helsinki University Library
New Cemetery Chapel of the Church of St Lawrence
Opinmäki International School
Kuokkala Church, Jväskylä by OOPEAA Office for Peripheral Architecture.
Sra Pou School, Sra Pou, Cambodia
Saunalahti School, Espoo by Verstas Architects.
ADDRESS
Deutsches Architekturmuseum
Schaumainkai 43
60596 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
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