Kampintori Meeting Place

Have you ever wondered what the peculiar structure at Kampintori is all about? Is it perhaps a remnant of the past, left behind due to its neat features? No. Instead it is quite a modern taideteos, by the Swedish sculptor Ernst Billgren, unveiled  in November 1998. It is actually a two-piece work (the other half is a short distance away on Malminkatu) and the suurempi piece (see picture) is called Suuri kohtauspaikka. So together they form Major and Minor Meeting places.

Meeting Places was part of an idea of transforming the former parking lot into a well-functioning city space, and now with the new Kamppi Mall nearby, it is a welcome addition to the area. Summertime also a favorite spot for skateboarders.
So if you are coming to Helsinki from Tallinn by ferry, and take the tram 9 and get off at Kampintori, why not go and have a closer look at this piece of art? And the city center? Just minutes away towards Ma-nnerheim-intie (see map).

sanasto = sõnastik = vocabulary 
jäänne = jäänus = remnant
jäänne menneisyydestä = mineviku igand = remnant of the past
kaksiosainen = kaheosaline, kahest osast koosneva = two-piece, consisting of two parts
kohtauspaikka = kohtumispaik = meeting place
kuvanveistäjä = skulptor = sculptor
paljastaa, julkistaa = pidulikult avada =  to unveil
pysäköintialue, parkkipaikka = parkimisplats, parkla = parking lot
rakenne = struktuur, ehitus = structure
rullalauta, skeittilauta = rula, skeit = skateboard
rullalautailija, skeittaaja = rulataja, rulasõitja = skateboarder
suurempi = suurem = bigger, larger
taideteos = kunstiteos = piece of art, work of art
tori = väljak, plats = square
vähän matkan päässä = läheduses = a short distance away