Architect Erik Bryggman (1891-1955): Nordic classicism, functionalism and new empiricsm

Kaunas artists’ house, Kauno menininkų namai, Putvinskio g. 56, Kaunas

Opening 31st Oct 6 PM to 9 PMOpen Mon-Fri 10 AM to 7 PM

The exhibition presents the career of architect Erik Bryggman (1891-1955), one of the most important architects of Nordic classicism, functionalism and new empiricism. Bryggman introduced Functionalism in Finland together with Alvar Aalto, making it the nationally accepted style of architecture.

Erik Bryggman (1891–1955) was one of the most significant Finnish architects of his time. At the beginning of his career he designed a number of residential buildings in Turku in the Nordic Classicism style, which are considered some of the finest examples of this style in Finland. In 1927–1929 he, together with architects Alvar Aalto and Hilding Ekelund, introduced Functionalism to Finland. The Turku Fair (1929), designed jointly by Aalto and Bryggman, was a manifesto for Functionalism. The Vierumäki Sports Institute (1931–36), the Åbo Akademi University Book Tower (1934–35) and Sampo House (1936–38) are key Functionalist buildings in Finland. The Resurrection Chapel (1938–41) in Turku established Modernism in the design of Finnish churches.  During the post-war reconstruction era Bryggman designed a number of schools, hospitals and residential buildings. His final design works include the Lappeenranta, Lohja and Honkanummi Funerary Chapels and the restoration of Turku Castle (1939-1961).

The Bryggman institute and the Estonian museum of architecture have combined an exhibition presenting Erik Bryggman’s architecture. The exhibition is based on Mikko Laaksonen’s book “Architect Erik Bryggman: Works” (Rakennustieto, 2016).

Curator: representative of Bryggman institute, Mikko Laaksonen

Webpage: www.bryggman.fi

Presentation of Bryggman’s major projects:

http://navi.finnisharchitecture.fi/selection/erik-bryggmans-architecture/

Kåren, Hämeenkatu 22

30.8.2019 13.30 – 16.30

Alvar Aalto and Erik Bryggman moved from Nordic classicism to Functionalism in Turku in the turn of 1920’s to 1930’s  and created the Turku Fair (1929) as the major manifesto of Functionalism in Finland – in co-operation with Nordic colleagues, German and French influences. The architecture they created has had a significant impact on development of Modernism.

The international mini-seminar explores the influence of Finnish modernism abroad. 

The English-language guidances have been concentrated from 29^th August to 31th August, so seminar participants can tour the most influential Modernist buildings in Turku and region such as TS building and Paimio sanatorium by Alvar Aalto, Atrium and Hospitz Betel, the Resurrection chapel by Erik Bryggman, the chapel of Holy Cross by Pekka Pitkänen as well as selection of post-war “New Empiricism” and type houses influenced by Aalto and Bryggman. See below for details:

Participants can also explore the sites on their own, for instance using the NAVI portal:

navi.finnisharchitecture.fi

Speakers:

Marija Dremaite, University of Vilnius

Finnish Impact on Modern Architecture in Lithuania in the 1960’s

Karin Hallas-Murula, Tallinn university of Technology

Links of Estonian architecture with Finnish classicism and functionalism in 1920’s and 1930’s.

Tommi Lindh, Alvar Aalto foundation

International influence of Alvar Aalto

Booking: info@bryggman.fi, include clearly name and possible special diets

Excursions and tours on 29^th August to 31^st August:

Book Magni Mundi tours at their website: https://www.magnimundi.fi/alvaraaltoweek/

Thursday 29^th August

14.00 – 15.30 Chapels and the Turku Graveyard (Magni Mundi)

The tour presents the two major Modernist chapels on the Turku graveyard;
The Resurrection Chapel by Erik Bryggman (1938-1941) and The Chapel of the Holy Cross by Pekka Pitkänen.

Start at Hautausmaantie 21 (Resurrection chapel), Turku

18.00-20.00 Paimio sanatorium (Magni Mundi)

Theme Young architects Aino and Alvar Aalto.  
Tour includes stairs.

Alvar Aallontie 275, Paimio

Friday 30^th August

10.00  Aalto& Bryggman - Pioneering modernists (Magni Mundi)

Start at Visit Turku info point, Aurakatu 2, Turku 

18.00 – 20.00 Paimio sanatorium (Magni Mundi)

Theme Cultural History of Sanatorium. Tour includes stairs.

Alvar Aallontie 275, Paimio

Saturday 31^st August

11.00 – 13.00 Legacy of Functionalism, Arava housing, type houses

During and after the World War II, functionalist principles were applied to housing in Finland in wide scale. Type houses were built already in 1940 based on Swedish funds. On the initiative of Alvar Aalto, architect union founded a standardisation office, which starting from 1942 created the groundwork for type plans for villas and standardised solutions, "RT-cards" for other projects. The so called "veteran's houses" were built in large scale around Finland in post-war period to house veterans, invalids and refugees from Karelia. High-rise construction was more difficult due to lack of funds and materials until the Arava loans were started in 1949. However, the architecture had also to adapt to the realities such as lack of materials and modern technology. This resulted in a style which is named "uusromantiikka" in Finnish, "New Empiricism" in English and "Nyrealism" in Swedish.

During the tour we will see different exampes from 1940’s and 1950’s in Martti and Mäntymäki areas.

Walking tour 2 hours. Start from Martti church, Huovinkatu 5, Turku.
The guidance price, 10 euros basic / 5 euros pensioner, student, under 18-years, unemployed
Guide: Representative of Bryggman institute, non-fiction author Mikko Laaksonen
Booking: info@bryggman.fi

Exhibitions open during the period

Turku main library, new building by JKMM (2007)

Linnankatu 4, open Mon - Fri 09:00 - 20:00, Sat 10:00 - 16:00, Sun 12:00 - 18:00

Alvar Aalto, Erik Bryggman and Functionalism, Knowledge section, first floor
Finnish, Swedish, English

Funkis in Finland,  Main aula, entrance floor

English

Erik Bryggman (1891–1955) was one of the most significant Finnish architects of his time. At the beginning of his career he designed a number of residential buildings in Turku in the Nordic Classicism style, which are considered some of the finest examples of this style in Finland. In 1927–1929 he, together with architects Alvar Aalto and Hilding Ekelund, introduced Functionalism to Finland. The Turku Fair (1929), designed jointly by Aalto and Bryggman, was a manifesto for Functionalism. The Vierumäki Sports Institute (1931–36), the Åbo Akademi University Book Tower (1934–35) and Sampo House (1936–38) are key Functionalist buildings in Finland. The Resurrection Chapel (1938–41) in Turku established Modernism in the design of Finnish churches.  During the post-war reconstruction era Bryggman designed a number of schools, hospitals and residential buildings. His final design works include the Lappeenranta, Lohja and Honkanummi Funerary Chapels and the restoration of Turku Castle (1939-1961).

The Bryggman institute and the Estonian museum of architecture have combined an exhibition presenting Erik Bryggman’s architecture, which includes four themes: The timeline of Bryggman’s architecture, churches and chapels, villas and Bryggman’s co-operation with visual artists. The exhibition includes also models. The exhibition is based on Mikko Laaksonen’s book “Architect Erik Bryggman: Works” (Rakennustieto, 2016).

The exhibition of 41 panels of size 70 x 100 cm, is available for other exhibitions from April on. Preliminary reservations from August to October 2019. Current languages include Finnish, English, Swedish and Estonian. Inquiries info@bryggman.fi

Estonian museum of architecture:

Viron arkkitehtuurimuseo, Ahtri 2, Tallinn, open Wed-Fri 11-18, Sat-Sun 10-18

Tickets & details: https://www.arhitektuurimuuseum.ee/

Galleria Nooruse, Riia 11, Tartu, open Tue-Sat  11-18, free entry

https://www.artcol.ee/en/gallery-noorus/

Opening in Tartu, Galleria Nooruse, Riia 11

Tue 26th Feb 17.00

Mikko Laaksonen presents the exhibition in English

Classicism, functionalism and traditionalism in central Tallinn

Walking tour 5 Jan 12.00 to 14.30

Start at Tallinn fire station, Raua 2

In central Tallinn there are several buildings by Erik Bryggman’s contemporaries such as Eugen Habermann, Herbert Johanson, Anton Soans. Also, Finnish architects such as Armas Lindgren, Wivi Lönn and Eliel Saarinen have built in central Tallinn. Good shoes and warm or waterproof clothing depending on day’s weather.

Guidance 5 euros. Languages Finnish and English.

Mikko Laaksonen

Architect Erik Bryggman, works.

6 PM 20 Nov

The english-language lecture will take place in the EKA Institute of Art History and Visual Culture, Suur-Kloostri 11, Tallinn

The lecture is based on the book “Architect Erik Bryggman: works”, Rakennustieto 2016, available in English, Finnish and Swedish. The author will have some copies with him.

Erik Bryggman (1891–1955) was one of the most significant Finnish architects of his time. At the beginning of his career he designed a number of residential buildings in Turku in the Nordic Classicism style, which are considered some of the finest examples of this style in Finland. In 1927–1929 he, together with architects Alvar Aalto and Hilding Ekelund, introduced Functionalism to Finland. The Turku Fair (1929), designed jointly by Aalto and Bryggman, was a manifesto for Functionalism. The Vierumäki Sports Institute (1931–36), the Åbo Akademi University Book Tower (1934–35) and Sampo House (1936–38) are key Functionalist buildings in Finland. The Resurrection Chapel (1938–41) in Turku established Modernism in the design of Finnish churches.

During the post-war reconstruction era Bryggman designed a number of schools, hospitals and residential buildings. In addition to these, Architect Erik Bryggman: Works also presents his final design works, the Lappeenranta, Lohja and Honkanummi Funerary Chapels, buildings that have been only rarely featured in previous publications on Bryggman, as well as his key private commissions, such as private homes, farmhouses and villas.

The book presents all of Bryggman’s realized works as well as those major unimplemented works that had a significant influence on the development of his architecture. The illustrations include photographs of the historical and current situations of the works as well as picture material from the Erik Bryggman drawings archive. The book is intended for researchers, students and all those interested in modern architecture.

Non-fiction writer Mikko Laaksonen MA (b. 1975) acts as a representative of the Bryggman Institute. He has previously written the books Turun puutalot [Turku wooden houses] (2016), Turun seutu kartoin [The Turku Region in Maps] (2015), Turun seudun arkkitehtuuriopas [Turku Region Architecture Guide] (2013, together with Juri Nummelin) and Turun raitiotiet [Turku Tramways] (2008).

The author, Mikko Laaksonen, presents the new book, with emphasis on new discoveries and information. The presentation is in Finnish, but the presentation materials and the book are also in English and the author will answer questions in English.

Erik Bryggman (1891–1955) was one of the most significant Finnish architects of his time. At the beginning of his career he designed a number of residential buildings in Turku in the Nordic Classicism style, which are considered some of the finest examples of this style in Finland. In 1927–1929 he, together with architects Alvar Aalto and Hilding Ekelund, introduced Functionalism to Finland. The Turku Fair (1929), designed jointly by Aalto and Bryggman, was a manifesto for Functionalism. The Vierumäki Sports Institute (1931–36), the Åbo Akademi University Book Tower (1934–35) and Sampo House (1936–38) are key Functionalist buildings in Finland. The Resurrection Chapel (1938–41) in Turku established Modernism in the design of Finnish churches.

During the post-war reconstruction era Bryggman designed a number of schools, hospitals and residential buildings. In addition to these, Architect Erik Bryggman: Works also presents his final design works, the Lappeenranta, Lohja and Honkanummi Funerary Chapels, buildings that have been only rarely featured in previous publications on Bryggman, as well as his key private commissions, such as private homes, farmhouses and villas.

The book presents all of Bryggman’s realized works as well as those major unimplemented works that had a significant influence on the development of his architecture. The illustrations include photographs of the historical and current situations of the works as well as picture material from the Erik Bryggman drawings archive. The book is intended for researchers, students and all those interested in modern architecture.

Non-fiction writer Mikko Laaksonen MA (b. 1975) acts as a representative of the Bryggman Institute. He has previously written the books Turun puutalot [Turku wooden houses] (2016), Turun seutu kartoin [The Turku Region in Maps] (2015), Turun seudun arkkitehtuuriopas [Turku Region Architecture Guide] (2013, together with Juri Nummelin) and Turun raitiotiet [Turku Tramways] (2008).

Picture: Villa Roland Lund, Pargas, Erik Bryggman 1940-1944