KOSMOS II 1/2 Terrace design and supporting sculptures. Restaurant Kosmos, Helsinki, Finland. Design: Stefan Lindfors 2008. Photo: Charlotta Boucht, Minna Metsärinne, Marco Melander When the City of Helsinki changed the section of the street Kalevankatu that Restaurant "Kosmos" is located on, into a walking street, owner Ms. Hepolampi decided to have a terrace made for her restaurant. Private-owned 83-year old "Kosmos" is an icon among Helsinki restaurants, and located in the absolute centre of the city, and it was obvious to her that the terrace had to become an art statement aswell. Lindfors has regarded "Kosmos" his "extended living room" since the beginning of the 1980's during his years in Helsinki, and he has re-designed the entrance of the restaurant three times along the years. When asked if he might consider taking on the terrace project he had only one question: Would there be a budget sufficient enough to really pull off such a visible permanent out-door project everyone could be proud of including the city centre? After negotiating and figuring out options and possibilities Lindfors happily decided to take on the project and began working out the concept and guidelines in the fall of 2007. The terrace area assigned to restaurant "Kosmos" reached out more than 5 meters (17 feet) from the façade. This was relevant: Obviously Ms. Hepolampi wanted to fit as many tables and chairs as possible, so the terrace roof would need to reach out over the entire "Kosmos grounds". Therefore Lindfors had no way of constructing the terrace roof structure without putting pillars or studs at the outer line of the roof frame. According to Helsinki City law out-door law, terraces are closed for the winter, so for 7 months an "empty" structure would stand quiet in front of the "Kosmos" façade reminding of the cold and grey and dark winter months. Lindfors realized the required supporting pillars wouldn't have to look as "dead" vertical poles, but they might just as well have sculptural shapes and thus the front of "Kosmos" would in fact function as a sculpture installation, no matter if open or closed - summer and winter. As themes for his supporting sculptures Lindfors built a whale fin, dragon head, dragon fly, aswell planet Earth and a star. He wanted a laid-back fun atmosphere for the terrace "Kosmos II", not a permanent installation of abstract works. "It is after all a restaurant integrated in a public street" he reasoned. "Kosmos II" opened to customers in August 2008. The terrace was completely finished by the end of 2009. All sculptures built by Lindfors and Mr. Harri Ojala: Powder-coated welded steel round stock, letters in chromed plasma-cut steel sheet. The "Kosmos Chair" was hand-bult by Mr.......
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KOSMOS II 1/2
Terrace design and supporting sculptures. Restaurant Kosmos, Helsinki, Finland. Design: Stefan Lindfors 2008. Photo: Charlotta Boucht, Minna Metsärinne, Marco Melander
When the City of Helsinki changed the section of the street Kalevankatu that Restaurant "Kosmos" is located on, into a walking street, owner Ms. Hepolampi decided to have a terrace made for her restaurant. Private-owned 83-year old "Kosmos" is an icon among Helsinki restaurants, and located in the absolute centre of the city, and it was obvious to her that the terrace had to become an art statement aswell. Lindfors has regarded "Kosmos" his "extended living room" since the beginning of the 1980's during his years in Helsinki, and he has re-designed the entrance of the restaurant three times along the years. When asked if he might consider taking on the terrace project he had only one question: Would there be a budget sufficient enough to really pull off such a visible permanent out-door project everyone could be proud of including the city centre? After negotiating and figuring out options and possibilities Lindfors happily decided to take on the project and began working out the concept and guidelines in the fall of 2007.
The terrace area assigned to restaurant "Kosmos" reached out more than 5 meters (17 feet) from the façade. This was relevant: Obviously Ms. Hepolampi wanted to fit as many tables and chairs as possible, so the terrace roof would need to reach out over the entire "Kosmos grounds". Therefore Lindfors had no way of constructing the terrace roof structure without putting pillars or studs at the outer line of the roof frame. According to Helsinki City law out-door law, terraces are closed for the winter, so for 7 months an "empty" structure would stand quiet in front of the "Kosmos" façade reminding of the cold and grey and dark winter months. Lindfors realized the required supporting pillars wouldn't have to look as "dead" vertical poles, but they might just as well have sculptural shapes and thus the front of "Kosmos" would in fact function as a sculpture installation, no matter if open or closed - summer and winter. As themes for his supporting sculptures Lindfors built a whale fin, dragon head, dragon fly, aswell planet Earth and a star. He wanted a laid-back fun atmosphere for the terrace "Kosmos II", not a permanent installation of abstract works. "It is after all a restaurant integrated in a public street" he reasoned. "Kosmos II" opened to customers in August 2008. The terrace was completely finished by the end of 2009.
All sculptures built by Lindfors and Mr. Harri Ojala: Powder-coated welded steel round stock, letters in chromed plasma-cut steel sheet. The "Kosmos Chair" was hand-bult by Mr. Tomi Syrjä in 24 pieces exactly according to Lindfors' prototype design. One chair was later purchased by Mr. Bruno Bischofberger, Switzerland, for his private collections.The terrace roof opens or closes by remote control, and the custom made frame has integrated LED lights for sculptures and tables. Lindfors' sculpture terrace received the "Best Terrace in the City" award by the Helsinki "CITY" magazine immediately after opening in the fall of 2008.
On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, restaurant Kosmos turned 100 years. Still within the same family.
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