Event: Finland - Helsinki

Kiasma

When:	Daily; not Mon
Where:	Kiasma
Costs:	€7; under-18s free
Opening Hours:	Tue 9am-5pm; Wed-Sun 10am-8.30pm

Kiasma, in the city centre, cleverly harmonises the clinically simple with incredibly sophisticated high technology, and is home to the contemporary art collection of the Finnish National Gallery. An integrated theatre offers music, movies, multimedia presentations, debates and seminars.

The building resulted from an architectural competition run by the local government in 1993. Although it was open to architects primarily from the Nordic countries and the Baltic states, others from further afield also took part. In the end Steven Holl, from Washington, USA impressed the powers that be the most.

If you don't have time to make it through the heavy bronzed doors of the museum, the curved solid zinc roof and vertical windowless aluminium elevations are impressive enough to the eye. This waterside building also has many glass surfaces, allowing plenty of daylight to enter the building and reflect from it. In Finland's plentiful darkness, they also make the building light up its surroundings as if it has a natural glow.

Inside, the copious walls and ceilings of white plaster successfully fulfil the aim of creating tranquility, simplicity and the ubiquitous Scandinavian cleanliness.

The Kiasma has encouraged lively debate among the Finnish glitterati since the final sandblast ended, partly because it sits near the centre of Helsinki on previously unbuilt land (beside Töölönlahti Bay) and partly because its unique architecture does not conform to "traditional Nordic Modernism". It's a must.