Old Student House, Helsinki
{{Short description|Former student house of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki}}
File:Old Student House, Helsinki, 2019 (01).jpg
The Old Student House{{cite web|title=Student Houses|url=http://hyy.helsinki.fi/en/student-union/history/student-houses|publisher=Student Union of the University of Helsinki|accessdate=11 February 2012|location=Helsinki}} ({{langx|fi|Vanha ylioppilastalo}}, colloquially called Vanha, "the old one"; {{langx|sv|Gamla studenthuset}}) is the former student house of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki, located in central Helsinki, Finland, near the crossing of Aleksanterinkatu and Mannerheimintie.{{cite web |title=Historia |url=https://www.vanhaylioppilastalo.fi/ravintola/vanha-ylioppilastalo-historia/ |website=Vanha Ylioppilastalo |accessdate=5 August 2020}}
Description
The building was designed by Axel Hampus Dalström and was completed in 1870. It represents the neo-Renaissance style of architecture.{{cite web |title=Vanha ylioppilastalo |url=https://ylva.fi/kiinteistot/vanha-ylioppilastalo/ |website=Ylva |accessdate=5 August 2020}}
The student house was originally built at the edge of the city centre, so the students' parties would not disturb other citizens. The construction was funded by a collection from the citizens. In dedication of this collection, the façade of the building bears the Latin inscription Spei suae patria dedit ("Fatherland gave to its hope"). Nowadays, the student house is located in the inner centre of Helsinki, near the Three Smiths Statue.
Near the student house is located the New Student House, completed in 1910. At that point the Old Student House got its current name. In 1938 there was a discussion about whether the Old Student House should be dismantled to give place for a new business house.
On November 25, 1968, one day prior to the Student Union's centennial celebration, a large group of students occupied the Old Student House which was designated as the location of the festivities. There was a fire in 1978 that badly damaged the building.
Old Student House contains many famous Kalevala themed works of art, such as Akseli Gallen-Kallela's mural Kullervo Rides to War and Robert Wilhelm Ekman's 390 cm tall painting Väinämöinen's Play.{{cite news |last1=Heinänen |first1=Kaisa |title=Väinämöisen soitto matkaa Vanhalta Ateneumiin |url=https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000004633267.html |accessdate=5 August 2020 |work=Helsingin Sanomat |date=17 February 2009}}{{cite web |last1=Lindqvist |first1=Mikko |title=Ylioppilastalon taidekoristelu |url=https://www.avoin.helsinki.fi/oppimateriaalit/taidehistoria/virtuaali/vanha_korist.shtml |website=Virtuaalinen arkkitehtuurikävely |accessdate=5 August 2020 |date=16 October 2000}}
Choirs and orchestra
Three choirs and one symphony orchestra rehearse in the Music Hall of Old Student House:
- Akademiska Sångföreningen
- YL Male Voice Choir
- Helsinki University Symphony Orchestra
- Akademiska Damkören Lyran{{cite news |last1=Blencowe |first1=Annette |title=Vanhan ylioppilastalon kiistaan vihdoin sopu: Kuorot saavat palata |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-8358852 |accessdate=5 August 2020 |work=Yle |date=6 October 2015}}
Gallery
{{gallery
|mode=packed
|height=160
|Helsinki-worker-statue-1751.JPG|Ilmarinen by {{ill|Robert Stigell|fi}}, 1888
|Helsinki-Folk-singer-statue-1750.JPG|Väinämöinen by Robert Stigell, 1888
|Walter Runeberg Kleobis ja Biton 1878.jpg|Kleobis and Biton by Walter Runeberg, 1878{{cite web |title=Kleobis ja Biton / Cleobis and Biton |url=https://www.hamhelsinki.fi/en/sculpture/kleobis-ja-biton-walter-runeberg/ |website=HAM Helsinki |accessdate=23 June 2020}}
|Robert Wilhelm Ekman - Väinämöinen’s Play.jpg|Väinämöinen's Play, Robert Wilhelm Ekman, 1866
|Akseli Gallen-Kallela - Kullervo Sets Off for War (mural).png|Kullervo Rides to War, mural by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, 1901
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Old Student House, Helsinki}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120215210934/http://www.vanha.fi/ Official site]
{{Coord|60|10|08.5|N|024|56|26|E|type:landmark_region:FI-ES|display=title}}
{{UH Music Corporations}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Helsinki
Category:Renaissance Revival architecture