Day 01

Traveling to Finland, long gone are the days of youth hostels and public transport. We are picked up by a FinnForest rep. and a comfy bus and are acclimating quickly in our individual rooms at the Radisson Espo, over looking the lake. A quick intro at FinnForest’s HQ, we are ready to be swept off our feet by timber constructions and products. And off to Helsinki, for drinks and dinner. Reindeer on our plates, trying not to think too much about poor Rudolf.

Day 02
Early pick up and a beautiful ride to FinnForest's factory. The sun is low (it almost always feels like mid-afternoon, no matter what time it is) and the forest stretches as far as the eye can see. Although no photography was permitted, it was an unforgettable visit. Watching a log being stripped, dried, glued, cut and packed affected all senses. The smell was seductive. The touch was soothing. And off to the forest, were trees are being cut, and replanted. Eli and Tessa in the monster machine and everybody collecting pieces of fresh cut wood. Dinner at the restaurant on the 10th floor, watching the sun starting to go down at 10pm.

Day 03
A sunny, yet cold morning, we are taking an architecture tour through Helsinki’s new and newer buildings. From Aalto’s gorgeous auditorium and library at the Tech. University followed by new housing schemes, and finally, to Steven Holl’s Museum of Contemporary Art. After changing rooms, and meeting loved ones, we continued to a sauna treat with Sami and yet another fantastic dinner at Gastone, one of Helsinki’s best.

Day 04

Vappu – a trip to the fort and despite the fact that it was a “no tourist day”, a visit to Aalto’s Finlandia and the Olympic stadium. Then, with 100,00 of our new best friends, watching the white hat being put on the big statue at the Esplanade and swimming in a sea of alcohol.

Day 05
Before catching the flights back home, a quick stroll to the park, a must with the locals, and a last walk through town, enjoying the sun, the nice people and the last few hours of relaxation before coming back to the load of work and the pending deadlines. After all, we have a pavilion to build!