With the inauguration of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in
Warsaw, Poland, the architectural work of the contemporary Finnish
partnership of Ilmari Lahdelma and Rainer Mahlamäki comes into worldwide
focus. This monograph presents for the first time a survey of selected
projects of the Lahdelma & Mahlamäki partnership, from their early
work in the 1990s to the present day, introducing it to a larger
international audience and placing it into the larger international
context. Peter MacKeith’s critical introduction and analyses of
significant cultural and civic projects identify themes and intentions
of the built work and projects, and places those projects within both
the Finnish architectural context and that of the larger architectural
culture. Besides the Warsaw Museum, designs for the Lusto—the Finnish
Forest Museum, the Kaustinen Folk Music Center, the Lohja Municipal
Library, and Wellamo—the Finnish Maritime Center are highlighted, among a
range of 10 other significant projects. An interview with the
architects explores their ideas concerning education, competition
designs, museum design, and the future of Finnish architecture.
