Riitta Nikula
Encyclopedia
Riitta Nikula is a Finnish art historian, author and professor emeritus in art and architecture history at the University of Helsinki
. She obtained her PhD from the University of Helsinki in 1981 with a study of the architecture of the Töölö
region of Helsinki. She was Professor of Art History
at the University of Helsinki from 1994 to 2007. Nikula also acted as Head of Research at the Museum of Finnish Architecture
from 1988 to 1994. Nikula is regarded as a generalist historian of Finnish architecture, with her writings covering a time-span from prehistoric times to the present day. But she also combines two potentially contradictory viewpoints, a feminist viewpoint and a pro-bourgious viewpoint, highlighting the elevated position of the ruling middle classes in creating aesthetically valuable architecture.
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...
. She obtained her PhD from the University of Helsinki in 1981 with a study of the architecture of the Töölö
Töölö
Töölö is the collective name for the neighbourhoods Etu-Töölö and Taka-Töölö in Helsinki, Finland. The neighbourhoods are located next to the city centre, occupying the western side of the Helsinki Peninsula....
region of Helsinki. She was Professor of Art History
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
at the University of Helsinki from 1994 to 2007. Nikula also acted as Head of Research at the Museum of Finnish Architecture
Museum of Finnish Architecture
The Museum of Finnish Architecture is an architectural museum in Helsinki, Finland. Established in 1956, it is the second oldest museum of its kind devoted specifically to architecture...
from 1988 to 1994. Nikula is regarded as a generalist historian of Finnish architecture, with her writings covering a time-span from prehistoric times to the present day. But she also combines two potentially contradictory viewpoints, a feminist viewpoint and a pro-bourgious viewpoint, highlighting the elevated position of the ruling middle classes in creating aesthetically valuable architecture.
Select list of publications
- Riitta Nikula, Focus on 20th century architecture and town planning. Collected papers by Riitta Nikula. SRM, 2006
- Riitta Nikula, Wood, stone and steel: Contours of Finnish architecture, Otava, 2005
- Riitta Nikula (ed), Heroism and the Everyday. Building Finland in the 1950s, SRM, 1994
- Riitta Nikula, Armas Lindgren 1874-1929 - architect, SRM, 1988.