The Democratic Way 8: House of the Estates

Summary

The House of the Estates in Finland, designed by Carl Gustaf Nyström and completed in 1891, served as a meeting place for the lower Estates. With the introduction of a unicameral parliament in 1907, it transitioned to committee meetings and later housed the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies. Since 1978, it has been managed by the Prime Minister's Office and now functions as reception rooms and a meeting place for the Council of State. It has been pivotal in the ratification of the Finnish flag code, the Constitution Act of 1919, and the 1945-1946 war crimes tribunal, and continues to host government negotiations and annual budget discussions.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The House of the Estates is located across from the Bank of Finland and was designed by Carl Gustaf Nicander.
• 🗝️ Completed in 1891, it served as a meeting place for the lower Estates due to the overcrowding in the House of Nobility.
• 👑 The pediment features a bronze relief by Ermeli Viitaniemi depicting Emperor Alexander I ratifying Finnish laws from the Swedish rule era.
• 🗝️ A replica of Walter Runeberg's statue symbolizing the law is found inside, with the original located in Senate Square.
• 🏛️ After 1907, with the introduction of a unicameral parliament, the House of the Estates was no longer the primary meeting place for MPs but continued for committee meetings.
• 📚 It later housed the Federation of Learned Societies before being managed by the Prime Minister's Office in 1978.
• 🤝 Currently, it serves as reception rooms and a meeting place for the Council of State.
• 🏳️ It has been the site for significant events, including the ratification of the Finnish flag code and the preparation of the Constitution Act of 1919.
• 🕊️ The House of the Estates was also the venue for the war crimes tribunal in the winter of 1945-1946.
• 📈 Today, it is used for government negotiations and annual budget discussions in its many meeting rooms.
• 🏙️ The building has a rich history and continues to play a vital role in Finnish governance and legislative processes.

Q & A

Where is the House of the Estates located?

The House of the Estates is situated across the street from the Bank of Finland.

Who designed the House of the Estates?

The House of the Estates was designed by Carl Gustaf Nicander.

In what year was the House of the Estates completed?

The House of the Estates was completed in 1891.

What was the original purpose of the House of the Estates?

The House of the Estates was originally intended as a meeting place for the lower Estates, as the House of Nobility had become too cramped.

What is depicted on the pediment of the building?

The pediment features a bronze relief by Ermeli Viitaniemi, depicting Emperor Alexander the First ratifying Finnish laws and rights from the time of Swedish rule.

What is the significance of the statue by Walter Runeberg?

Walter Runeberg's statue portrays the law and a replica is located inside the House of the Estates, with the original on the pedestal of the Alexander II statue in Senate Square.

How did the use of the House of the Estates change after the introduction of the unicameral parliament in 1907?

After the introduction of the unicameral parliament, the House of the Estates could no longer meet the needs of the 200 MPs, but it continued to be used for committee meetings.

Which organization managed the House of the Estates before it came under the management of the Prime Minister's office in 1978?

Before being managed by the Prime Minister's office, the House of the Estates housed the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies for a number of years.

What is the current use of the House of the Estates?

Currently, the House of the Estates is used as reception rooms and as a place for the Council of State to meet.

What historical events took place in the House of the Estates?

The House of the Estates has been the locale for the ratification of the Finnish flag code, the preparation of the Constitution Act of 1919, and the war crimes tribunal held in the winter of 1945-1946.

What types of meetings are held in the House of the Estates today?

Today, government negotiations and the annual budget negotiations are held in its numerous meeting rooms.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ History and Function of the House of the Estates

The House of the Estates, located opposite the Bank of Finland and designed by Carl Gustaf Nicstrom, was completed in 1891 to serve as a meeting place for the lower Estates due to the overcrowding in the House of Nobility. The building's pediment features a bronze relief by Ermel Vicstrom depicting Emperor Alexander the First ratifying Finnish laws from the Swedish era. Inside, a replica of Walter Runeberg's statue symbolizing the law can be found, with the original located at the Alexander II statue in Senate Square. After the 1907 introduction of a unicameral parliament, the House of the Estates continued to be used for committee meetings and later housed the Federation of Learned Societies. It came under the management of the Prime Minister's office in 1978 and is currently used for Council of State meetings and as reception rooms. The House has been pivotal in the ratification of the Finnish flag code, the preparation of the 1919 Constitution Act, and the 1945-46 war crimes tribunal. It also hosts government negotiations and annual budget discussions.

Keywords

💡House of the Estates

The 'House of the Estates' refers to a historical building in Finland that was designed by Carl Gustaf Nicander and completed in 1891. It served as a meeting place for the lower estates of Finland, as the House of Nobility was too small to accommodate everyone. The building is significant in the video's narrative as it symbolizes the political and social structure of Finland during the time, and it is central to the historical events discussed, such as the ratification of the Finnish flag code and the Constitution Act of 1919.

💡Carl Gustaf Nicander

Carl Gustaf Nicander is an architect mentioned in the script as the designer of the House of the Estates. His role is crucial in the context of the video because his architectural design represents the physical manifestation of the political and social changes of the time. The building he designed is a testament to his contribution to Finnish history and architecture.

💡Ermel Vicstrom

Ermel Vicstrom is an artist who created the bronze relief on the pediment of the House of the Estates. His work depicts Emperor Alexander the First ratifying Finnish laws and rights, which is a significant historical moment captured in art. The bronze relief is an important element in the video, as it visually represents the transition of power and the establishment of Finnish autonomy.

💡Walter Runeberg

Walter Runeberg is the sculptor of the statue portraying the law, a replica of which is found inside the House of the Estates. His statue is a symbol of the rule of law and its importance in Finnish society. The original statue is located on the pedestal of the Alexander II statue in Senate Square, further emphasizing the connection between law, governance, and the historical figures of Russia and Finland.

💡Unicameral Parliament

The term 'unicameral parliament' refers to a single-chamber legislative body, which replaced the bicameral system in Finland in 1907. This change is a key point in the video, as it signifies a shift in the political landscape of the country, moving from a system that included the House of the Estates to a more simplified and modern legislative structure.

💡Committee Meetings

After the introduction of the unicameral parliament, the House of the Estates could no longer serve its original purpose but was repurposed for committee meetings. This keyword is important as it shows the continued use and relevance of the building in the political process, even after its original function was no longer needed.

💡Federation of Finnish Learned Societies

The 'Federation of Finnish Learned Societies' is an organization that used to occupy the House of the Estates for a number of years. This keyword is significant as it indicates the building's role in fostering intellectual and academic pursuits, in addition to its political history.

💡Prime Minister's Office

The 'Prime Minister's Office' is mentioned in the script as the entity that took over the management of the House of the Estates in 1978. This keyword is relevant as it demonstrates the building's ongoing importance in the administrative functions of the Finnish government.

💡Council of State

The 'Council of State' is the Finnish government's executive branch, which currently uses the House of the Estates as a place to meet. This keyword is important as it ties the building to the current operations of the Finnish government and its ongoing role in the country's governance.

💡Finnish Flag Code

The 'Finnish Flag Code' is a set of regulations governing the use of the Finnish flag. Its ratification at the House of the Estates is a historical event highlighted in the video, showing the building's role in defining national symbols and identity.

💡Constitution Act of 1919

The 'Constitution Act of 1919' is a significant legal document in Finnish history, which was prepared at the House of the Estates. This keyword is central to the video's theme as it represents a foundational moment in the establishment of Finland's legal and political framework.

💡War Crimes Tribunal

The 'War Crimes Tribunal' held in the winter of 1945-1946 is an important historical event that took place at the House of the Estates. This keyword is significant as it connects the building to the post-World War II period and the process of justice and reconciliation.

💡Government Negotiations

The term 'government negotiations' refers to the discussions and decision-making processes that take place within the House of the Estates. This keyword is relevant to the video's content as it shows the building's continued use for high-level political activities and its importance in the governance of Finland.

💡Annual Budget Negotiations

The 'annual budget negotiations' are financial discussions that occur within the House of the Estates. This keyword is important as it illustrates the building's role in the economic governance of Finland, being the venue for critical fiscal decisions.

Highlights

The House of the Estates is located across the street from the Bank of Finland.

Designed by Carl Gustaf Nyström, the building was completed in 1891.

Initially served as a meeting place for the lower Estates due to the cramped nobility house.

The pediment features a bronze relief by Ermeli Viström depicting Emperor Alexander the First.

Inside, a replica of Walter Runeberg's statue symbolizing law is located above the stairs.

The original statue is found on the pedestal of the Alexander II statue in Senate Square.

After 1907, the House of the Estates was no longer suitable for the 200 MPs due to the introduction of a unicameral parliament.

Continued to be used for committee meetings post-1907.

The Federation of Finnish Learned Societies occupied the building for several years.

Managed by the Prime Minister's Office since 1978.

Currently used as reception rooms and for Council of State meetings.

Served as the locale for the ratification of the Finnish flag code.

Played a role in the preparation of the Constitution Act of 1919.

Hosted the war crimes tribunal in the winter of 1945-1946.

Today, it is the venue for government negotiations and annual budget negotiations.

The building has a rich history of serving various political and legislative functions.

It has been a symbol of Finnish democracy and legislative processes.

The architecture reflects the importance of the building in Finnish history.

The House of the Estates has been a witness to significant historical events in Finland.

Transcripts

foreign

The House of the Estates lies across the

street from the bank of Finland

it was designed by Carl Gustaf newstrom

and completed in 1891.

it provided a meeting place for the

lower Estates since the house of

nobility had become too cramped for all

the Estates

the pediment of the building is

established with a bronze freeze by

Ermel vicstrom in which emperor

Alexander the first ratifies The Finnish

laws and rights from the time of Swedish

rule

inside above the stairs on the landing

saws a replica of Walter runebrey's

statue portraying the law

the original of which can be found on

the pedestal of the Alexander II statue

in Senate Square

after the introduction of the unicameral

parliament in 1907 The House of the

Estates could no longer meet the needs

of the 200 MPS

it was however still used for committee

meetings

thereafter it housed the Federation of

finished learned societies for a number

of years before coming under the

management of the prime minister's

office in 1978.

currently it is used as reception rooms

and as a place for the Council of state

to meet

The House of the Estates has acted as

the Locale for the ratification of the

Finnish flag code the preparation of the

Constitution Act of 1919

and the war crimes tribunal held in the

winter of 1945 1946

today government negotiations and the

annual budget negotiations are held in

its numerous meeting rooms