Caroline Robertson, a fourth-year architecture student, traveled abroad as abroad as a part of the School of Architecture’s Finland Summer Architecture Institute in Helsinki, Finland. 

“First arriving in Helsinki felt overwhelming but exciting because I had been anticipating it for several months and there had been a few meetings beforehand it felt surreal to then finally be in Helsinki,” she said. “I had a feeling of wanting to maximize all of the new opportunities and explore every inch of the city. Every corner there was something new which was refreshing because I often catch myself bored of new experiences and too comfortable in Knoxville.” 

For Robertson, one of the most impactful experiences took place shortly into the program. The cohort traveled to Kiljava, a village in the municipality of Nurmijärvi and Hyvinkää in southern Finland. 

“Driving along the Finnish countryside was stunning and the summer cabin we stayed at in the woods appeared like a hidden gem,” Robertson said. “Sleeping in bunk beds, sausages by the fire, and sitting by the lake with the sun still high in the sky at 11:00 pm felt like I was at camp but 10x better. We learned how to measure the summer cabin by hand and translate these measurements into drafted drawings.” 

The 15-credit hour program spans May to August and satisfies the program’s off-campus requirement. Students studied at Aalto University, named in honor of Alvar Aalto, a prominent Finnish architect and designer.  

The country gave Robertson a new outlook on the built environment. 

“Stepping onto a campus designed by Alvar Aalto was a privilege and I got to see first hand how his drawings translated in beautiful spaces. While Alvar Aalto made a tremendous impact on Finnish architecture, the Finnish design culture was unlike anything I had experienced. The Finnish design culture prides itself in well built things, design competitions that yield beautiful public spaces, and attention to every detail. These are just a few design approaches that I am now determined to use in my future practice as an architect and designer.” 

• Can you describe your initial feelings when you arrived in the new country? 

First arriving in Helsinki felt overwhelming but exciting. Because I had been anticipating it for several months and there had been a few meetings beforehand it felt surreal to then finally be in Helsinki. There was a feeling of wanting to maximize all of the new opportunities and explore every inch of the city. Every corner there was something new which was refreshing because I often catch myself bored of new experiences and too comfortable in Knoxville.  

• What was the most impactful project or excursion through the program? 

The most impactful experience was within the first few days of the trip. We traveled about an hour away from Helsinki city center to Kiljava. Driving along the Finnish countryside was stunning and the summer cabin we stayed at in the woods appeared like a hidden gem. Sleeping in bunk beds, sausages by the fire, and sitting by the lake with the sun still high in the sky at 11:00 pm felt like I was at camp but 10x better. We learned how to measure the summer cabin by hand and translate these measurements into drafted drawings. We experienced our first true Finnish sauna which was unlike anything I have participated in. The smoke sauna felt uncomfortably hot at first but after a dip into the freezing spring filled lake, the warmth of the sauna became more appealing and thus the cycle continued, hot to cold, cold to hot. At Kiljava I got my first taste of Finnish summer which is filled with smiles as people finally experience warmth after another brutal winter and the sun stays high in the sky almost all day long.  

• In what ways has studying abroad changed your perspective on your field of study? 

After studying abroad in Finland I feel like I have a new outlook on the built environment. Stepping onto a campus designed by Alvar Aalto was a privilege and I got to see first hand how his drawings translated in beautiful spaces. While Alvar Aalto made a tremendous impact on Finnish architecture, the Finnish design culture was unlike anything I had experienced. The Finnish design culture prides itself in well built things, design competitions that yield beautiful public spaces, and attention to every detail. These are just a few design approaches that I am now determined to use in my future practice as an architect and designer.