Everything and Nothing – Architects Kaija + Heikki Siren at Espoo City Museum 23.10.2020–9.1.2022

Everything and Nothing – Architects Kaija + Heikki Siren
23.10.2020–9.1.2022
Espoo City Museum

KAMU’s special exhibition, Everything and Nothing – Architects Kaija + Heikki Siren is the first in Finland to present a comprehensive review of the Sirens’ architecture and opened on the 100th anniversary of Kaija Siren’s birth on 23 October 2020. The architects’ design work from the 1950s and 1960s is presented with a particular focus on their works in Espoo: those featuring prominently include the internationally renowned Otaniemi Chapel and the experimental terraced houses and schools in the garden city of Tapiola. The simple beauty characteristic of the Sirens’ style led the Italian composer Luigi Nono to exclaim: Tutto e niente! This has everything and nothing!

The cornerstone of the Sirens’ architecture was the relationship between the buildings and their environment, as well as ensuring the optimal structures for the buildings’ intended purposes and use of high-quality materials. These themes will allow visitors to delve into the world of contemporary Finnish architecture, through a wide range of visual materials, scale models, and their own actions. Augmented reality, 360-degree videos, and drone images offer a new perspective on everyday architecture. And those who use the buildings have not been forgotten either! The exhibition is aimed anyone interested in good design. Exploring the exhibition’s themes requires no previous knowledge of architecture, and you can be sure that a visit will help you see the built environment in a whole new light!