Viljo Revell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Viljo Revell
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Viljo Revell (right) with Aarne Ervi in 1943
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| Born | 25 January 1910 |
| Died | 8 November 1964 (aged 54) |
| Nationality | Finnish |
| Alma mater | Helsinki University of Technology |
| Buildings | Lasipalatsi, Palace Hotel, Toronto City Hall |
| Projects | City-Center, Helsinki |
Viljo Gabriel Revell (born January 25, 1910 – died November 8, 1964) was a Finnish architect. He was known for his "functionalist" style of building. This means his buildings were designed to be useful and practical, often with clean lines and simple shapes.
In Finland, he is famous for designing the Lasipalatsi (which means "Glass Palace") and the Palace Hotel, both in Helsinki. Around the world, Revell is most recognized for creating the New City Hall in Toronto, Canada.
Viljo Revell's Life and Work
Viljo Revell was born in Vaasa, Finland, in 1910. He finished high school in 1928. He then studied to become an architect at the Helsinki University of Technology, graduating in 1937.
He became well-known as an architect right after graduating. He and two other students, Heimo Riihimäki and Niilo Kokko, won a competition to design the Lasipalatsi. This building was first meant to be temporary, with shops, a restaurant, and a cinema. But it became a very important example of Finnish "white functionalist" architecture.
His next big project was the Teollisuuskeskus (Industrial Centre) in Helsinki. This building included offices, the Palace Hotel, a rooftop restaurant, and shops. Revell designed it with architect Keijo Petäjä. It was finished in 1952, just in time for the Helsinki Olympic Games.
Revell became famous internationally when he won a competition in 1956–1958 to design the Toronto City Hall. He worked on this project with other Finnish architects: Heikki Castrén, Bengt Lundsten, and Seppo Valjus. The building was completed in 1965, the year after Revell passed away.
Revell married Maire Myntti in 1941. They had three daughters. During World War II, he served in the navy as a fire control officer. He survived when the Finnish Navy's flagship, the Ilmarinen, sank in 1941.
In 1943, even during the war, people were already thinking about rebuilding after the war. Revell, along with other famous architects like Alvar Aalto and Aarne Ervi, helped start the Finnish Building Information File. This was a system to help standardize building practices and the sizes of building parts. It helped make construction easier and more organized.
Famous Buildings He Designed
Here are some of the important buildings Viljo Revell designed:
- 1935 Lasipalatsi ("Crystal Palace") in Helsinki (with Niilo Kokko, Olavi Laisaari and Heimo Riihimäki)
- 1939 Hallintalo House office building in Vaasa
- 1948 Palace Hotel in Helsinki (with Heikki Castrén)
- 1953 Tower block in Tapiola, Espoo
- 1953/1954–1956, 1960 Kudeneule knitwear factory (now Printal) in Hanko
- 1957 Villa Didrichsen Didrichsen Art Museum in Kuusisaari, Helsinki (new wing added in 1964)
- 1960 City-Center office building (also called “Makkaratalo” or “Sausage Building”) in Helsinki (with Heikki Castrén)
- 1961 Finnish Ministry of Defence in Helsinki (with Heikki Castrén)
- 1962 Office block in Vaasa (now called the "Rewell Center")
- 1962 Watertower in Tapiola, Espoo (its disk shape is similar to the council chamber in Toronto City Hall)
- 1966 New City Hall of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Images for kids
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Lasipalatsi, Helsinki (1935).
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Palace Hotel, Helsinki (1952).
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Taskumatti houses, Tapiola (1953).
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KOP Bank building, Turku (1960).
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Finnish Ministry of Defence, Helsinki (1961).
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Revell Center, Vaasa (1963).
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City-Center, Helsinki (1958–67).
See also
In Spanish: Viljo Revell para niños
