The name for the museum "kiasma" is a Finnish translation for "chiasma" which is often used in biology and anatomy meaning a crossing, like that of the optic nerves at the base of the brain. Such a definition gives light to the design, specifically the many floating bands of egress. The building is surrounding by many great works of architecture design mostly by Nordic architects such as Eliel Saarinen's Helsinki Station to the east, and Alvar Aalto's Finlandia Hall to the north. Holl's design was picked through a design competition that was intended mostly for Scandinavian architects which caused some controversy.
The building is filled with soft light, many curved surfaces and large voids. It was completed in 1998 and is set on an important feature of the city, The Mannerheimintie, one of the main thoroughfares of Helsinki. This visit marked a special occasion because it was the first bathroom I occupied and took photos of. Documentation is a important feature of my difficult work. The lavatory (yes the lavatory, I am running out of synonyms for bathroom) was a single user type, which I saw a lot of overseas. I have to admit, it seemed as though an intern threw its design together at the last minute. It was small enough that I could make and wash my hands at the same time. It also did not include a window for a view or at the very least some natural ventilation. The most interesting part was the sink. It appeared to by a brushed bronze or copper and was covered in dents like it was made of rock or something. A pretty nice detail. If I had a ranking system, which is currently in the works so to speak, I would give it a 3 out of 5.
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