Hilda Hongell

Hilda Hongell was the first female "master builder" in Finland, and is sometimes described as the first female architect in Finland although Signe Hornborg appears to deserve this title.

Early years

She grew up in the Åland Islands, and began her career as a special student at Helsinki Industrial School in 1891. In those days only men could attend the industrial schools in the country, but because of her excellent results she was accepted as a regular student the following year, and began her career in architecture in 1894.

Style

At the turn of the 20th century, the ornamented Swiss style was favoured in Finland; Hongell used this style most effectively.

Designs

Hilda Hongell designed 98 buildings in the Mariehamn district, mostly town houses and farm houses. Around 44 of them are still standing today.

Exhibitions

An exhibition of the architecture of Hongell, together with her contemporary Lars Sonck, titled "The old architecture of Mariehamn", took place in Helsinki in the summer of 2007.

Sons

Hilda Hongell's son Göran Hongell was a distinguished glassware designer.