Elsa Arokallio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elsa Arokallio
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Alma mater |
|
| Occupation | Architect |
Elsa Arokallio (born August 18, 1892, in Kurkijoki – died October 3, 1982, in Helsinki) was a talented Finnish architect. She designed many different types of buildings throughout her long career.
Early Life and Education
Elsa Arokallio was born in 1892. Her parents were Gustaf Arokallio and Elisabeth Parviainen. She finished high school in 1910.
She then went on to study architecture. In 1919, she earned her degree in architecture from Helsinki University of Technology. This was a big achievement for a woman at that time.
Starting Her Own Firm
After finishing her studies, Elsa Arokallio started her own architecture company. She opened it with her husband, Erkki Väänänen.
Sadly, her husband passed away just four years after they were married. Elsa did not give up. She bravely continued to run the architecture firm all by herself.
Important Projects
Elsa Arokallio worked on many important projects during her career. She even worked for the Ministry of Defence in Finland.
- She helped design the barracks (buildings where soldiers live) in Kauhava. These were finished in 1933.
- She also designed the headquarters for coastal artillery in Lahdenpohja. These were also completed in 1933.
In the 1930s, Elsa Arokallio also worked with another famous architect named Elsi Borg.
Later Career and Designs
In 1940, Arokallio moved to Viborg. There, she worked with Martha Martikainen-Ypyä, another architect.
After World War II, she moved to Lahti. She worked with an architect named Könönen. Together, they designed many single-family houses.
From 1953 to 1959, Elsa Arokallio worked for Finland's Building Board. During this time, she designed several schools in different cities, including:
Besides designing buildings, Elsa Arokallio also started working in interior design. This means she helped plan the inside spaces of buildings, choosing things like furniture and decorations.
Elsa Arokallio passed away in 1982, at the age of 90. She left behind a legacy of many important buildings she helped create in Finland.
