Lasipalatsi

The Lasipalatsi ( German Glass Palace ) is a functionalist building on the main street Mannerheimintie in the Kamppi district of Helsinki.

Start time

The Lasipalatsi was built in 1936 by the young Finnish architect Viljo Revell, Heimo Riihimäki and Niilo Kokko in the center of Helsinki. The building, with its restaurants, offices and a movie theater was not originally intended as a permanent building. However, the popular shops, especially a general store and ice cream parlor, and the offices of Siemens prevented the demolition. The cinema Bio Rex was at times one of the largest and most important movie theaters in Finland.

Renovation

In the 1980s, the building was threatened by neglect of decay. The Lasipalatsi was extensively renovated from 1995 to 1998, among others, with funds from the European Union ( URBAN I Community Initiative ). He is now a media and cultural center with many cafes. The breakfast television public broadcaster YLE is taken there. Upstairs the Cable Library is. Here you can use ( with advance notice) a stationary computer with a laptop brought free via wireless LAN to the Internet, or but. The Cable Library has received due to their innovative concept in prize money from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She has opened up on Saturdays any day of the week.