The silent chapel, Kamppil has to rate as my favourite building so far in Helsinki. It is in the centre of Helsinki in one of the main squares called Narinkka square; it offers a space of retreat and encounter daily from early morning until late in the evening. The chapel is not meant for congregational services or ceremonies although staff members of the Helsinki city congregations and social services will be available for conversation. The sense of calm will instead be supported by having small-scale gatherings. It is also known as the "Chapel of Silence" since it is intended to be a place to calm down and have a moment of silence in one of the busiest areas in Finland.
The chapel is operated on a partnership basis by the Helsinki Parish Union and the Social Services Department of the City of Helsinki, while the parish unions of the neighbouring cities of Espoo and Vantaa also participate in the chapel's activities.
The chapel was constructed as a part of the World Design Capital program in 2012. It was designed by architects Kimmo Lintula, Niko Sirola and Mikko Summanen of K2S Architects Ltd., and won the International Architecture Awards in 2010.
This gorgeous tactile chapel offers social services in the heart of the Finnish capital and recognises the need that many of us may require mental health services at some point in our lives. Excellent social services in Finland this far...
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