Wivi Lönn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wivi Lönn
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| Born |
Olivia Mathilda Lönn
20 May 1872 |
| Died | 27 December 1966 (aged 94) |
| Nationality | Finnish |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Awards | Architectural prize of School of Economics of Tampere, title of "Professor" by the Finnish Association of Architects |
| Buildings | Estonia Theatre |
| Projects | Uusi Ylioppilastalo |
| Design | Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory |
Wivi Lönn (born Olivia Mathilda Lönn on May 20, 1872 – died December 27, 1966) was a super talented Finnish architect. She made history as the first woman to be given the special title of "Professor" by the Finnish Association of Architects. She designed many important buildings in Finland and even in other countries.
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Wivi Lönn's Early Life and School
Olivia Mathilda Lönn was born on May 20, 1872, in a village called Onkiniemi, near Tampere, Finland. Her dad, Wilhelm Lönn, was a local brewer, and her mom was Mathilda Siren.
After finishing school at the Industrial School of Tampere, Wivi moved to Helsinki. From 1893 to 1896, she studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Helsinki. Even while she was still a student, she was amazing! She won first place in several architecture contests. During her life, she became very good friends with Hanna Parviainen, and they worked together on many projects.
Becoming a Professional Architect
After Wivi graduated from university, she opened her own architecture office. This was a really big deal because it made her the first woman in Finland to work as an independent architect.
In 1904, she won another big award for her design of a mercantile school in Tampere. From 1909 to 1913, Wivi Lönn worked with another architect named Armas Lindgren. Together, they designed and built two famous buildings: the Estonia Theatre (which looks like the Art Nouveau style) and the Uusi Ylioppilastalo (The New Student House).
In 1913, Wivi moved to Jyväskylä, a city in central Finland. There, she designed many different buildings, including a school, a factory, and several other important structures. Also in 1913, the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, which she designed, was finished. This observatory is a place where scientists study the Earth and space.
In the 1910s, she even designed the home of another famous architect, Alvar Aalto, in Jyväskylä. This house was completed in 1915. In the 1920s, Wivi worked a lot with her friend Hanna Parviainen. They designed many buildings in the Jyväskylä area, like nursery schools, health clinics, a church, and a library. At the same time, Wivi also designed and built the main building for the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) in Helsinki.
In 1956, Wivi Lönn made history again! She became the very first woman to be given the special honorary title of "Professor" by SAFA, which is the Finnish Association of Architects.
Wivi Lönn passed away on December 27, 1966, in Helsinki.
Wivi Lönn's Legacy
Wivi Lönn left behind many amazing buildings and inspired many people. In 2010, a sculptor named Sonja Vectomov created a cool statue of Wivi Lönn. It stands in a private park right in front of Wivi's old mansion. The statue's base even has the outline of her mansion on it!
The year 2022 marked 150 years since Wivi Lönn was born. To celebrate her life and work, the Museum of Finnish Architecture held a big exhibition called "LONG LIVE WIVI LÖNN!". It showed off her incredible career and was open from April 29, 2022, to January 8, 2023.
Notable Buildings Designed by Wivi Lönn
Wivi Lönn designed many different types of buildings. Here are some of her most well-known works:
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, 1908.
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Ebeneser kindergarten, Helsinki, 1908.
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Uusi Ylioppilastalo (The New Student House), 1910.
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Korp! Sakala convent, 1911. This building was badly damaged in 1941 but was later rebuilt.
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The original Estonia Theatre before it was heavily damaged in 1913.
See also
In Spanish: Wivi Lönn para niños
