The President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb has presented the honorary title of Art Academic to Professor Emeritus Vilhelm Helander. Known for his work on complex restoration projects, Professor Helander is an architect, planner, scholar and an engaged participant in public debate as well as an SAFA honorary member.
Vilhelm Helander has been appointed to the role of Art Academic following the death of Juha Leiviskä. Helander and Leiviskä ran an architectural practice together from 1978 onwards.
Vilhelm Helander’s first larger project as an architect was the development of Helsinki’s Katajanokka neighbourhood, particularly its southern tip, in collaboration with Pekka Pakkala and Mikael Sundman. The architects were appointed to the project after winning an open-call design competition.
Helander is particularly well-known for his work on the restoration of some of Helsinki’s most architecturally valuable buildings, including the Old Student House, the National Museum of Finland, Helsinki Cathedral and the House of the Estates, for which he was presented with the Europa Nostra heritage award.
Seven years ago, Vilhelm Helander became an honorary member of the Finnish Association of Architects. His appointment coincided with the organisation’s 125th anniversary.
“The honorary title of Art Academic has been awarded to Vilhelm Helander in recognition of his profound and impactful thinking on architecture. Through his designs, writing and other public contributions, he has brought his insight to bear on the debate regarding the values that underpin architecture and our built environment,” Asko Takala, SAFA chair, commented.
Alongside his architectural designs, Helander is known for his work on Nordic approaches to building conservation, both as a scholar and teacher. From 1985 to 2005, he held the chair of Architectural History at Helsinki University of Technology.
Helander is also a keen contributor to public debate. His best-known written work is perhaps Kenen Helsinki (Whose Helsinki), a pamphlet written in collaboration with Mikael Sudmand, which took a critical view of real estate development’s destructive impact on historic fabric of the city.
“I have dedicated half of my career to teaching architectural history and defending our built heritage through writing. The other half I have spent engrossed in design work encompassing the built environment and our preservation and stewardship of it,” Vilhelm Helander commented.
“On a personal level, I am delighted to receive this honour. But I also consider it a tribute to our built heritage and conservation sector in the widest sense and view it as recognition of the important role building restoration and repair have come to play within architecture. Finland may once have been the promised land of new builds, but I’m delighted to note that today at last half of all activity in our building industry involves infill development and the management and repair of our existing building stock.”
Helander’s achievements have also been recognised with the Eino Leino Prize (1971), the State Award for Public Information (1971) and the State Prize for Architecture (1983). In 1998, he was presented with the Pro Finlandia medal.
The President of Finland awards the title of Art Academic to a distinguished artist nominated by the Arts Council of Finland. The title was also presented to Hilja Grönfors, a vocalist and expert on European Romani folk music. A total of 11 Art Academics can hold the title at any one time.