Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Did you know Helsinki has one of Europe's largest collections of Art Nouveau ("Jugendstil")?
It boasts having the most Art Nouveau/Jugend buildings in Northern Europe with over 600 buildings characterised by national romantic motifs like granite, folklore creatures, and nature-inspired designs.
This latest film by HENI Talks on Art Nouveau, explores Jugendstil – Finland’s version of Art Nouveau – a movement that turned ordinary buildings into complete works of art and helped a young nation find its voice.
Walking through Katajanokka’s castle-like apartment blocks, the Pohjola Insurance Building, studio-home Vitrésk, the National Museum, theatre and bank interiors, Kallio Church and Helsinki Central Station, we see how architects fused:
– wild Nordic nature and the Kalevala myths
– granite, wood, stained glass and mural painting
– political hope, national pride and everyday life
From stone monsters and stylised forests to towering churches and the lantern bearers of the railway station, Jugendstil in Helsinki becomes a total work of art – architecture, design and storytelling woven together.
🎥 This episode is part of the HENI Talks series on Art Nouveau. Watch the others:
Gaudí’s Barcelona → youtu.be/-ezNhTwfIGY
Victor Horta’s Brussels → youtu.be/k20doHDjMwo
📖 If you enjoyed this film and want to learn more about Art Nouveau, you won't want to miss our book ‘Art Nouveau: The Architecture of Modern Life’ by leading expert Paul Greenhalgh.
Available now:
heni.com/shop/books/art-nouveau-the-architecture-of-modern-life?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Caption&utm_id=Discover+Art+Nouveau+in+Helsinki
🎥 Presented by HENI Talks — films that bring art, design, and architecture to life.
🔔 Subscribe for more films on art, architecture, and culture:
/ @henitalks
👍 Like, comment, and share to support our work!
🌐 Learn more:
Web — heni.com
Instagram — / heni
TikTok — / heni
X — https://x.com/heni
🏷️ Tags
#jugendstil #arthistory #artandarchitecture #artnouveau #helsinki #finnishdesign #architecturehistory #kalevala #henitalks
Did you know Helsinki has one of Europe's largest collections of Art Nouveau ("Jugendstil")?
It boasts having the most Art Nouveau/Jugend buildings in Northern Europe with over 600 buildings characterised by national romantic motifs like granite, folklore creatures, and nature-inspired designs.
This latest film by HENI Talks on Art Nouveau, explores Jugendstil – Finland’s version of Art Nouveau – a movement that turned ordinary buildings into complete works of art and helped a young nation find its voice.
Walking through Katajanokka’s castle-like apartment blocks, the Pohjola Insurance Building, studio-home Vitrésk, the National Museum, theatre and bank interiors, Kallio Church and Helsinki Central Station, we see how architects fused:
– wild Nordic nature and the Kalevala myths
– granite, wood, stained glass and mural painting
– political hope, national pride and everyday life
From stone monsters and stylised forests to towering churches and the lantern bearers of the railway station, Jugendstil in Helsinki becomes a total work of art – architecture, design and storytelling woven together.
🎥 This episode is part of the HENI Talks series on Art Nouveau. Watch the others:
Gaudí’s Barcelona → youtu.be/-ezNhTwfIGY
Victor Horta’s Brussels → youtu.be/k20doHDjMwo
📖 If you enjoyed this film and want to learn more about Art Nouveau, you won't want to miss our book ‘Art Nouveau: The Architecture of Modern Life’ by leading expert Paul Greenhalgh.
Available now:
heni.com/shop/books/art-nouveau-the-architecture-of-modern-life?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Caption&utm_id=Discover+Art+Nouveau+in+Helsinki
🎥 Presented by HENI Talks — films that bring art, design, and architecture to life.
🔔 Subscribe for more films on art, architecture, and culture:
/ @henitalks
👍 Like, comment, and share to support our work!
🌐 Learn more:
Web — heni.com
Instagram — / heni
TikTok — / heni
X — https://x.com/heni
🏷️ Tags
#jugendstil #arthistory #artandarchitecture #artnouveau #helsinki #finnishdesign #architecturehistory #kalevala #henitalks
