This research project visually narrates the development and research during my master's thesis. It focuses on the history of the brick architecture of Helsinki, proposing a practical method that allowed me to acknowledge, engage and bond with this cultural and material heritage, previously unknown and foreign to me.
This method is grounded in the physical encountering of historical buildings in the Finnish capital area, such as Otakaari 1, Kultturitalo, and Uspeskin Katedraali, among many others. Hence, reaching their premises, document their surroundings, and reflect on this personally lived experience. Complementary to this method is the collection of fallen fragments from the perimeter of these buildings.
Through this exploratory process, I acknowledged architectural details and historical traits that would otherwise have remained unnoticed and unrecognised. Thus, the materiality, the physical and cultural condition of this heritage, and by holding fragments, a tangible link to the history of these buildings. Moreover, I realised that the gathered knowledge became not a product of a historical narrative or the result of someone else’s voice but, on the contrary, deeply embedded and intertwined within the practitioner. All these features have contributed to my developing a sense of attachment and familiarity towards this heritage, as if I would be able to hold it on the palm of my hands.
Read the full text here:
https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/items/61a8dbfd-0b82-442b-bacb-2e5128eee23e
