University Times

Future students attending class in 306 Cathedral of Learning will be seeing stars thanks to the Big Dipper-themed design of the proposed Finnish Nationality Room.

New York Times graphics editor and Finnish expatriate Mika Gröndahl unveiled his winning design last week in the Cathedral’s Commons Room to Finnish dignitaries, including a representative from the consul general of Finland’s office in New York, and members of the Finnish Room planning committee.

Gröndahl’s Big Dipper design integrates an early Finnish smoke cottage — savupirtti — with the newest audiovisual technology. It was selected from among several Finnish architects’ and interior designers’ entries by a jury comprising a Finnish professor of architecture, the Finnish Room committee and Pitt officials.

The contrast between modern and historic in Gröndahl’s design also represents Finland’s rapid development as one of the most advanced countries in the field of technology, the jury stated in making its selection.

“In working on this design, there were two conditions: to relate to the living standards in Finland in the 1700s, but also to have a usable space for modern university teaching. Those two don’t go well together,” Gröndahl said. “But I thought I could have a design that would be a compromise of how the two things married together.”

The basis of the design is the smoke cottage that was typical in the 1700s in most of Finland and survived as a staple of living quarters in some parts of the country through the 1800s and even into the 1900s, Gröndahl said.

The cottages typically were multi-generational family a-bodes, where industrious Finns would live and work together, with each family member having specific tasks, such as using tools, cooking or teaching the younger ones to read and learn, he said. “They had a very active lifestyle, with everybody involved in doing something.”

Gröndahl’s design features a long common table in the middle of the room flanked by long benches on the sides.

“The act of sitting side by side on long benches represents the Finnish people’s solidarity and ability to get along even with difficult neighbors,” Gröndahl said of the room’s centerpiece. “There are other benches along the walls, and an adaptive storage area at one end of the room where firewood would be stored in the smoke cottage.”

In Gröndahl’s design, the storage area either can be open to view or concealed by a floating rear projection screen, which represents the rise of the Finns from life in smoke cottages to modern leaders in technology use and development, he said.

When the room is hosting classes, instructors can use the multi-purpose computer-operated system for videos, PowerPoint presentations, as an Internet connection — or as a traditional chalkboard. When the room is not in use for classes, the screen saver program will display images of Finland.

“Typically, the smoke cottage had a hole in the roof to allow the smoke to disperse,” Gröndahl said.

The Finnish room will be dimly lit, with the only natural light coming from small hatches on the wall. Light directly above the table will come from halogen lights arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper constellation, a symbol of the continuity between historical times and today.

The walls will be constructed from blackened thick logs connected with traditional “salmon tail” joints, Gröndahl said. The interlocked wall logs will create an esthetic rhythm of wooden surfaces, the only decorative element of the room’s design, he said. The floor will be made of thick planks with a linseed oil finish.

To view images of Gröndahl’s design, visit www.pittsburghfinns.org/press.html.

The Finnish Nationality Room committee continues to raise funds toward its goal of $300,000 for the projected room. When completed, the room will join its 26 internationally famous companion classrooms.

—Peter Hart