Just north of the centre of Helsinki and at the terminus of the No. 6 and 8 trams lies the Arabia district where we found much of interest to occupy us for several hours. Starting off by the tram terminus is the Iittala and Arabia design centre and outlet store where we were able to browse the latest ranges from these iconic Finnish glass and ceramic manufacturers in room layouts and on table settings. The Arabia factory was founded in 1873 and at one time was the largest porcelain factory in Europe.
The store has had a complete makeover since our last visit and its new, minimalist style is easy on the eye. My all time favourite is the Alvar Aalto vase and, of course, who could resist the delightful Moomin cartoon range of tableware. At the far corner there is a sleek kitchen layout where we were even able to help ourselves to complimentary cups of coffee, served in designer mugs.
Leaving the outlet store we took the lift to the 9th floor to take a look inside the Design Museum. This museum displays the products of the Arabia ceramics factory and Iittala glassworks from 1873 to the present day. Products are displayed in a timeline indicating the years when specific items were manufactured and it was interesting to view how designs have evolved over time. Entrance to the museum is free and further details can be found here.
The group is now owned by Fiskars, manufacturers of household and garden products and probably most recognised for their orange handled scissors which have been produced since 1967 and are most likely to be present in nearly everyone’s kitchen drawers.
Just along the corridor from the outlet store you will find a cafe to the left and slightly further on next to the attractive Pentik store is the Fiskars pavilion which is open to the public during working hours.
On display here are some of the company’s iconic home and garden products that have been fashioned into art installations. It was fascinating to view mundane household items such as scissors, axes and plates in such inspirational ways.
Leaving the building, a flight of steps leads down towards the sea where we enjoyed a stroll along the tranquil waterfront towards the old town rapids. Modern, tastefully designed apartments with huge glass balconies overlook the waterside park and bay enabling residents to live in a calm, natural environment yet only a short tram ride away from the city centre.
Reaching the old town rapids on the Vantaa river we crossed the bridge to the Museum of Technology which occupies the site of the old waterworks and is spread over several buildings. The museum documents the history of technology and industry in Finland from the late 19th century to the present day. We began our tour in the main building, the History of Innovation section which shows the history of metals, building materials, communications and computer technology. Here we found telephone devices from more than 100 years ago, the first generation of computers and domestic appliances through the ages.
Over in the Hydro Power Plant building we were able to learn how electricity was generated by hydro power a hundred years ago and discovered that it is still produced here today. The Steam Plant, located next door was built in 1931 and was used as a reserve power plant, producing electricity for the use of the water treatment plant if the hydropower plant could not operate due to low water levels in the river.
If you are interested in visiting this museum further details can be found on its website here. The museum offers free admission each Thursday but the Power Plant is only open during the summer months and closes earlier at 5.00 p.m.
It was then time for some lunch so we called into the Koskenranta restaurant which occupies an idyllic spot on the banks of the old town rapids very close to the Museum of Technology. On a sunny day it’s a lovely place to sit out on the terrace enjoying their buffet lunch and at under €10 it’s very good value. We tucked into creamy salmon soup with rye bread followed by lamb meat balls, salad, coffee and biscuits.
Needing to walk off the excesses of our lunch we decided to take the Pornaistenniemi nature trail which is located just across the bridge from the cafe. A wooden sign indicates the start of the trail which begins along a gravel path then just after crossing a small wooden bridge continues onto a newly laid boardwalk of a good width. This has replaced the very narrow two plank wide one which was starting to disintegrate.
Arriving on Lammasaari island we could see small summer cottages tucked away in the trees and at the far side of the island a small jetty with views towards Herttoniemi. A narrow, winding gravel path leads to the Lammasaari birdwatching tower and from the top there are far reaching views across the reed beds to Vikki. We then slowly returned to ground level and retraced our steps back along the boardwalk towards the tram stop to take us back into Helsinki after a fun filled day in the Arabia district of the city.
If you have enjoyed reading this post you may also be interested in the following posts relating to ceramics.
The Ceramics Trail in Stoke-on-Trent
Loved the design center. Scandanavian design is such a delight. Good to know all that Fiskars produces. We get mostly scissors and special craft cutters from them here. What a beautiful place to have lunch and the cost was more than resaonable. Thanks for sharing Marion.
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I think that nearly everyone has a pair of Fiskars scissors in their kitchen drawers. The way they had displayed their products was really artistic and in Finland tasty buffet lunches are the norm at good prices! Thanks for taking an interest. Marion
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Unfortunately you didnt go to the place in Vanhakaupunki where Helsinki was found and to see the horses.
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Hi Inka, we have actually visited Vanhakaupunki many times but didn’t visit it on this occasion. Thank you for taking an interest in my Finnish posts.
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Always wanted to go to Finland! Love this article!
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Thank you for taking an interest in my posts. I do hope you get an opportunity to visit Finland sometime.
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Loved this. Never been to Finland … it must be getting closer 🙂 Thank you.
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Thank you for your kind words. I do hope you have an opportunity to visit Finland one day.
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So creative to display scissors and axes like this – I love it. Such a beautiful area too Marion, the scenery is just gorgeous.
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Thank you Joy, it’s hard to believe that so many pairs of scissors could form a chandelier type of arrangement. I loved them too. Hope you get to visit the Arabia district sometime, so varied yet so interesting.
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Wow, you sure find the best places to visit! I haven’t even been here 🙂
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The porcelain factory looks really fascinating. An interesting area you found 🙂 🙂
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Thank you Jo, my house has quite a collection of Arabia ceramics gathered over the past few years!
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The museum seems pretty cool, but I don’t trust that scissor display! Lol
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Thank you for your kind words, it’s good to read you enjoyed this post.
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Missed this totally when I visited Helsinki a few years ago. You’ve given me a good reason to go back some day 🙂
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Hope you get a chance to return to Helsinki one day Cassie. Thank you for your much appreciated comments.
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I love this! I very much hope to visit Finland one day.
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Thank you so much for your inspiring comments. I do hope you have an opportunity to visit Finland sometime in the future.
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Very interesting post. I will never look at my pair of Fiskars the same.
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Thank you Suzanne, I’d never imagined seeing Fiskars products displayed like that but it was very impressive.
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What a fun piece and so interesting. Really enjoy your travels.
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Thank you for your kind words. It’s great to read that you are enjoying my posts.
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Another great little trip with you through an unknown city – thanks for taking us along!
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Thank you so much Marcus for your ever welcome thoughts. Have a wonderful holiday and I’ll look forward to reading about it in due course. M.
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My wife is going to love your blog!!! It’s wonderful. We love visiting Europe. there are so many places that you have been where we want to visit. There are many locations that we have not heard of, or never considered… but we must visit now!!!
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It made me very happy reading your inspiring comments about my blog. I’m so pleased you are finding it helpful and I do hope you will have an opportunity to visit some of these places soon.
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Wonderful photos of great museum pieces! 😀
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Thank you for your kind words. It is so nice to read that you have enjoyed reading this post.
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Love the photos of the Art displays…They were so interesting and unique. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you for your much appreciated comments. I thought the art display of mundane items was fun, too.
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Sounds like a wonderful day. I loved your nature pictures – so clear, pristine and calming. I also loved how they displayed the mundane items into art.
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Thank you for your kind words. It was a splendid day out, a good mix of nature and history.
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What a beautiful store and museum!
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Thank you for your much appreciated comments. It certainly is a lovely place to visit.
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Really interesting!
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Thank you for taking an interest in this post.
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Is the Nokia building bears the same name? Just curious…
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The former Nokia headquarters at Keilaniemi, Espoo are now home to the Microsoft and Tieto companies. Thank you for taking an interest in my Finnish posts.
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i see. so gone is Nokia now….
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They have moved elsewhere in the district to smaller offices.
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Amazing! How many times I was in Helsinki, and didn’t know about this area)
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Thank you for your much appreciated comments. I hope you get an opportunity to visit soon.
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Such beautiful place. The pictures are awesome and your writing is flawless
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Thank you for your inspiring comments Harshi, they are much appreciated.
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The display of those household goods is fantastic!
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Thank you, I loved the displays of the mundane household items too!
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That’s fantastic! Such beautiful displays of such mundane items – and who doesn’t love Moomins? 🙂
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Thank you for your kind words they are much appreciated. I loved the displays of scissors and axes too!
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Hello Marion.
Thank You for this post. You presented some places, which I have not visited. Arabia is quite unknown to me, I have to confess. I loved very much Your photos presenting Fiskars products. They have excellent gardening products, which had when having a detached house. I think that I have visited “hundreds years” ago old town rapids. 🙂
Again, your post was very informative and inviting places, which You presented. Thank You.
Have wonderful day!
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Thank you for your much appreciated comments on my Arabia post Matti. Hopefully when you are back in Helsinki you can pop along and take a look yourself. M.
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Enjoyed your post. I’m a fan of Arabia. . . . own quite a few of their designs. Off to Alaska in the morning.
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It’s good to hear that you are also a fan of Arabia designs. My home has quite a few, too. Hope you have a splendid time in Alaska, I’ll look forward to reading about it.
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I love your travel reports. Now that I can’t travel anymore reading your blogs is the next best travel experience.
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It is so lovely to open my iPad whilst having my breakfast to read such inspiring comments Ian. I do value your continued support and your comments mean a lot.
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