Aarne Ervi
Encyclopedia
Aarne Adrian Ervi (May 19, 1910 in Forssa
– September 26, 1977 in Helsinki
) was one of the most important architect
s of Finland's
post-World War II
reconstruction period.
Ervi graduated as an architect from the Helsinki University of Technology
in 1935. After his graduation, he worked in the architect offices of Alvar Aalto
and Toivo Paatela, before starting his own office in 1938.
Ervi completed his most notable and well-known works during the post-war reconstruction period and later in the 1950s during the development of Finland's modern construction industry. Ervi was among the pioneers in the use of concrete
elements in Finnish architecture while working on the design of the University of Helsinki
's Porthania building in 1949. He also designed hydro power plants
and residential areas for the company's employees for Oulujoki Oy. One of Finland's largest hydro power plants in Pyhäkoski was designed by Ervi, as was nearly all of the nearby settlement, Leppiniemi.
Ervi is probably best known for designing the town center plan of Tapiola
after winning a design contest held in 1954. He also designed many of its most recognizable buildings, including the central tower, shopping centers Tapiontori and Heikintori
, and the swimming hall.
Ervi was an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects
and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Stuttgart
.
Forssa
Forssa is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located almost in the centre of a triangle defined by the three largest major cities in Finland , in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Tavastia Proper region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
– September 26, 1977 in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
) was one of the most important architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
s of Finland's
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
reconstruction period.
Ervi graduated as an architect from the Helsinki University of Technology
Helsinki University of Technology
Aalto University School of Science and Technology , was the temporary name for Helsinki University of Technology during the process of forming the Aalto University...
in 1935. After his graduation, he worked in the architect offices of Alvar Aalto
Alvar Aalto
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware...
and Toivo Paatela, before starting his own office in 1938.
Ervi completed his most notable and well-known works during the post-war reconstruction period and later in the 1950s during the development of Finland's modern construction industry. Ervi was among the pioneers in the use of concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
elements in Finnish architecture while working on the design of the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
's Porthania building in 1949. He also designed hydro power plants
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
and residential areas for the company's employees for Oulujoki Oy. One of Finland's largest hydro power plants in Pyhäkoski was designed by Ervi, as was nearly all of the nearby settlement, Leppiniemi.
Ervi is probably best known for designing the town center plan of Tapiola
Tapiola
Tapiola or Hagalund is a district of Espoo on the south coast of Finland, and is one of the major urban centres of Espoo...
after winning a design contest held in 1954. He also designed many of its most recognizable buildings, including the central tower, shopping centers Tapiontori and Heikintori
Heikintori
Heikintori is a shopping centre in Tapiola, Espoo, Finland.Heikintori is the oldest shopping centre in the entire country of Finland. It includes many shops including clothes and electronics shops, many restaurants, and a barber's shop....
, and the swimming hall.
Ervi was an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Stuttgart
University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is a university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized in 10 faculties....
.
Works by Ervi
Oulujoki
- Pyhäkoski power plant and Leppiniemi in MuhosMuhosMuhos is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu half an hour drive on route 22 from the city of Oulu, the capital of Northern Finland and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
(1942–1951) - Jylhämä power plant and residential area in VaalaVaalaVaala is a municipality in Finland. It is located in the Kainuu region. Established in 1954 , the municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
(1946–1950) - Nuojua power plant and residential area in Vaala (1946–1950)
- Pälli power plant and residential area in Muhos (1946–1950)
- Montta power plant in Muhos (1951)
Tapiola
- Plan for the town center of Tapiola (1954)
- The central tower and Tapiontori shopping center (1959–1961)
- Swimming hallTapiola swimming poolThe Tapiola swimming pool is a swimming pool centre in the district of Tapiola in Espoo, Finland. The centre was designed by Aarne Ervi and built in 1965. The building was renovated by Arkkitehdit NRT, and the renovation was completed in the 2000s. The renovation included an extension of the...
(1965–1968) - Heikintori shopping center (1968)
Other works
- The new campus for the University of TurkuUniversity of TurkuThe University of Turku , located in Turku in southwestern Finland, is the second largest university in the country as measured by student enrollment, after University of Helsinki. It was established in 1920 and also has faculties at Rauma, Pori and Salo...
(1956–1959) - The Porthania building for the University of Helsinki (1957)
- Messukylä GymnasiumGymnasium (school)A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
(1961) - The expansion of the KemiKemiKemi is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located very near the city of Tornio. It was founded in 1869 by royal decree, because of its proximity to a deep water harbour....
city hall (1967) - Töölö Library, the city library of Helsinki (1970)
External links and references
- Aarne Ervi at the Museum of Finnish Architecture
- Tapiolan Keskus at the Museum of Finnish Architecture
- Tapiola at the National Board of Antiquities of Finland