Sweden:
Gamla Stan is where the city of Stockholm all started. We got to walk around the old city and its churches and its winding old narrow streets. It's pretty charming. Not a car in site, a souvenir shop sprinkled here and there and sloping streets (Copenhagen is flat).
Sergels Torv:
The Stockholm subway is the longest art gallery in the world. I regret not taking pictures of it but there was art all along the walls of the subway. So walking between tracks and platforms was a pretty cool experience because there was always some piece of work on the walls and ceilings.
Swedish meatballs...O.M.G.OM.NOM.NOM.:
Also in Stockholm, we went to the Woodland cemetery:
Trees trees trees everywhere with the most beautiful blanket of snow I have ever seen. In the forest, we visited the Woodland Funerary Chapel and Resurrection Chapel (pics of which I didn't put up). But it was seriously the most enchanting walk through ever.
And we visited the City library, which happens to be the first public library in Scandinavia:
So pretty.
We also got to visit a firm in Sweden called White Architects:
They had some pretty nice views of the harbor from their balcony.
Markus Kyrkan (Church):
From an architect's standpoint, it's pretty interesting because it's mostly brick and it's structurally amazing that brick was able to create such curves and support the church the way it has.
Then...we went to FINLAND. via an overnight ferry, with a delicious buffet.
In the city of Turku, we visited the Ressurection Chapel:
And the Holy Cross Chapel:
They both had spectacular views of the trees and snow outside and some awesome lighting.
In Paimio, Finland, we visited one of Alvar Aalto's claim to fame, the Sanatorium (it's a general hospital today):
Nothing too spectacular but this modernist building helped put Finland on the architecture radar because it was a big deal at the time.
Hvittrask House:
A house shared by Herman Geselius, Armas lindgren, and Eliel Saarinen. They built the whole thing.
We then went to Helsinki. Finland has a multitude of Alvar Aalto works, a famous architect. He also designs his own furniture and has designed some glass vases and candle holders (which I bought...):
In Helsinki, we visited Alvar Aalto's house and studio:
This was our tour leader for the whole week, Kelly Nelson. He is also my studio teacher this semester. He used to be a DIS student from America too and now he lives in Denmark with his Danish wife. He is awesome.
Vases he designed.
Flower joint.
Otaniemi University also designed by Alvar Aalto:
Scandinavian countries like Fish and Herring, especially Finland:
We had this football shaped potato pastry for a starter and then Herring for the main course. I actually kind of loved it...but I can't say the same for every other DIS student traveling with me. Clearly there is something wrong with me. :D
Also in Finland culture, saunas are very common. It involves sitting in a sauna until you are dripping sweat. Then you immediately dip yourself in a cold lake or cold shower. Then you go back into the sauna and repeat. After that herring dinner, we got to experience Finnish sauna culture for ourselves. I got to tell you, it's the most relaxing feeling after you get out and clean yourself off. My pores were opened up and I felt like my skin was "breathing."
Next day we went to Myyrmaki Church:
We also visited Steven Holl's Kiasma museum:
During our free time in our last days in Helsinki, my friends and I walked to the top of Rock Church:
^picture taken by my friend Pablo.
Once again, it was one of my favorite trips in Europe. Lots of fun and many inside jokes. But now I have to haul ass to get my studio project and portfolio done. Wish me luck! I'll keep you posted.
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