Viiskulma (Finnish, literally "Five Corner";Swedish:Femkanten, literally "Five Edge") is a well known intersection of five streets inHelsinki (Laivurinkatu, Pursimiehenkatu, Fredrikinkatu, Laivurinrinne and Tarkk'ampujankatu) at the boundary of thePunavuori andUllanlinna neighbourhoods. The street Fredrikinkatu is one of the oldest and major traffic arteries of Helsinki's inner city.
The five buildings marking each corner of the junction are taller than the surrounding buildings, giving them a tower-like feel: they were built over a period from the late 1890s to the late 1920s and vary in architectural style fromNeo-Renaissance toNordic Classicism: Fredrikinkatu 19 (1896) by architectsNyström, Petrelius and Penttilä; Laivurinrinne 1 (1928) by architect E. Ikälainen; Tarkk'ampujankatu 20 (1927) by architect Väinö Vähäkallio; Laivurinkatu 10 (1890) by architectSelim A. Lindqvist; Fredrikinkatu 12 (1927) architect unknown.
Viiskulma has traditionally been known as a landmark, and nowadays for the severalrecord shops in it or in its immediate vicinity, specialising in various styles of music.[1][2] The most famous of these shops isDigelius Music, which has operated in its location since 1971.[3] This rich offering is celebrated byEgotrippi inPolkupyörälaulu (2001).
There are several buildings in or near Viiskulma which are important from the point of view of local cultural history. The ground floor of the building at Laivurinrinne 1 was originally the Merano cinema theatre; the ground floor of the building at Tarkk'ampujankatu 20 was originally a bank; the ground floor of the building at Laivurinkatu 10 has been since it was first built in the use of thePrimula bakery and restaurant.
Media related toViiskulma at Wikimedia Commons
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60°9′39″N24°56′31″E / 60.16083°N 24.94194°E /60.16083; 24.94194
