Helsinki City Hall ( fi, Helsingin kaupungintalo, sv, Helsingfors stadshus) is a central administrative building of

Helsinki Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the Capital city, capital, primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Finland, most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of U ...

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...

. City Hall is located in the

Kruununhaka Kruununhaka (; ) is a neighbourhood of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Kruununhaka became the area next to the harbour and the center, when Helsinki was moved from the earlier location in the mid-1660s. From the very beginning, the residents i ...

district, overlooking

Market Square The market square (or sometimes, the market place) is a Town square, square meant for trading, in which a market is held. It is an important feature of many towns and cities around the world.City Council of Helsinki The City Council of Helsinki (, ) is the main decision-making organ in the local politics of Helsinki, Finland. The City Council deals with issues such as city planning, schools, health care, and public transport. The 85-seat Council's members a ...

History

Completed in 1833, the building originally served as Hotel Seurahuone and was an important cultural facility hosting many premieres. The hotel was designed by

Carl Ludvig Engel Carl Ludvig Engel, or Johann Carl Ludwig Engel (3 July 1778 – 14 May 1840), was a German architect whose most noted work can be found in Helsinki, which he helped rebuild. His works include most of the buildings around the capital's monumental ...

who also designed the major buildings around the nearby Senate Square. The city purchased the building in 1901 and, after the hotel moved out in 1913, renovated it as a city hall. Following an architectural competition the City Hall was radically remodeled by architect

Aarno Ruusuvuori Aarno Emil Ruusuvuori (14 January 1925, Kuopio – 22 February 1992, Helsinki) was a Finnish architect, professor and director of the Museum of Finnish Architecture. He studied at Helsinki University of Technology, completing his studies in 1951. ...

in 1965–70, replacing many of the old classical interiors and building modern glass-facaded insertions. File:I.K. Inha, Helsinki d2005 132 635 (16185288537).jpg, Hotel Seurahuone in 1908, seen from across the Market Square. File:Ruusuvuori Helsinki City Hall.JPG, City Hall extension built in the 1980s, designed by Aarno Ruusuvuori. File:Helsinki City Hall Pride 2018.jpg, City Hall during

Helsinki Pride Helsinki Pride is an LGBT pride event in Helsinki, Finland. The event takes place during the last week of June. The event lasts all week and is usually held the week after midsummer. On Monday, the program opens, and during the week there are ...

in 2018.

Functions

The City Hall hosts the offices of the

Mayor of Helsinki The City Council of Helsinki (, ) is the main decision-making organ in the local politics of Helsinki, Finland. The City Council deals with issues such as city planning, schools, health care, and public transport. The 85-seat Council's members a ...

and the Deputy Mayors as well as the meeting facilities for the

City Council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...

and City Board. The City Council meets on alternate Wednesdays in the Council Chamber. City Hall hosts the Virka information service, which is open to all Helsinki residents. The Virka gallery hosts exhibitions, concerts, and movie screenings.

References

External links

City Hall’s 50th anniversary website
{{Authority control City and town halls in Finland Buildings and structures in Helsinki Carl Ludvig Engel buildings Government buildings completed in 1833 Kruununhaka Aarno Ruusuvuori buildings

History

Functions

See also

References

External links