Mute sound

Jussi Jännes (1922 Helsinki–1967 Las Palmas, Spain)
was a garden architect whose career peaked when he designed the landscape for Tapiola. Jännes designed parks in Tapiola, the green structures in its centre and the gardens of blocks of flats and private houses. His hand continues to be strongly visible in Tapiola.

Jännes was one of the first Finnish architects to strongly focus on the landscape. In the past, garden architects implemented their plans themselves, including the nurseries, building materials and construction work. Jännes’ career took place at a time when the new generation was starting the most stylistically modern era in Finland’s landscape design. In his plans, Jännes utilised foreign plant species in his designs, adding exotic dimensions to domestic landscapes with bright colours. His work is characterised by large, rolling lawns and colours that change with plants that flower at different times of the year. In his day, Jännes was also criticised for designing areas that were too open, and his use of foreign plants was considered inappropriate.

For the exhibition, a collection of Jännes’ Tapiola designs has been digitised, some of which are now on display for the first time.

We want to thank landscape architect Ria Ruokonen an expert on Jännes and Tapiola architecture, C.–J. Gottberg the senior gardener at Asuntosäätiö housing foundation, and Professor Riitta Nikula of the Museum of Finnish Architecture and Espoo City Museum, for their cooperation. The exhibition has been produced by the City of Espoo’s Event and Cultural Services.

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