The Resurrection Chapel in the Turku cemetery stands as a defining example of how Erik Bryggman harmonized modern architectural forms with natural landscapes. Completed in 1941, this structure synthesized his evolving approach to design, which transitioned from early Nordic Classicism into a mature, organic style that informed his subsequent post-war work on various public and memorial buildings.
Early Career and Education
Born in Turku in 1891, Bryggman began his architectural education at the Helsinki University of Technology in 1910, qualifying as an architect in 1916. His formative years included a 1914 study trip to Denmark and Sweden alongside Hilding Ekelund, followed by a 1920 journey to Italy where he focused on vernacular architecture. Before establishing his own office in Turku in 1923, he worked for several established architects, including Sigurd Frosterus, Armas Lindgren, Valter Jung, and Otto-Iivari Meurman.
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Bryggman initially gained recognition for Nordic Classicism, demonstrated by projects such as the Atrium apartment building and Hotel Seurahuone in the 1920s. His project for the Hospits Betel Hotel, executed between 1926 and 1929, marked a stylistic pivot; he stripped away classical elements mid-process to incorporate a modernist campanile. In 1927, he began a professional collaboration with Alvar Aalto. Their joint effort on the 1929 Turku Fair served as a critical early modernist statement in Finland.
Professional Independence and Legacy
After Aalto moved to Helsinki in 1935, Bryggman practiced independently, refining his style through works like the Åbo Akademi University library extension. His versatility spanned private summer villas, hospitals, and power stations. From 1939 until his death in 1955, he oversaw the restoration of Turku Castle, integrating modernist spaces into the medieval structure. His career concluded with significant cemetery chapel commissions in Lappeenranta, Lohja, and Vantaa, continuing a legacy managed partly by his daughter, Carin Bryggman.
Fast facts
- Born: 1891, Turku, Finland
- Died: 1955, Turku, Finland
- Education: Helsinki University of Technology
- Notable Work: Ylösnousemuskappeli
- Primary Practice Location: Turku
- Antwerp World Expo Award: Grand Prix for Finnish pavilion
- Family: Married to Agda Grönberg, daughter Carin Bryggman
Questions readers ask
Did Erik Bryggman work outside of Finland?
Yes, his only known realised work abroad was the Finnish pavilion at the 1929–30 Antwerp World Expo in Belgium.
Who continued Bryggman’s work at Turku Castle?
Following his death in 1955, the restoration of the castle was continued by his assistant Olli Kestilä and his daughter, Carin Bryggman.
Achievements
- Notable work: Ylösnousemuskappeli
- Trained at Helsinki University of Technology