Press release

Architect Mona Schalin awarded title of Art Academic

Alexander Stubb, President of the Republic of Finland, has awarded the title of Art Academic to architect Mona Schalin. Schalin is an expert in building conservation, renovation and the protection of the built cultural environment. Her most notable restoration and renovation projects include the National Pensions Institute apartment building area, the Urho Kekkonen Museum Tamminiemi, the Serpentine House in Helsinki, and several of the buildings at the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress.
Published
Mustavalkoinen puolimuotokuva Mona Schalinista ulkona
Photo Jouni Kaipia


The President of the Republic of Finland awards the title of Art Academic to highly distinguished artists. The title is for life. There can be up to 11 Art Academics at any one time. The awarding of the title is based on a proposal by the Central Arts Council.

The other Art Academics are visual artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila, photographer Caj Bremer, musician Hilja Grönfors, film director Pirjo Honkasalo, dance artist Marjo Kuusela, author Hannu Mäkelä, textile and fashion artist Vuokko Nurmesniemi, conductor Jorma Panula, playwright and director Sirkku Peltola, and performance artist Roi Vaara.

Grounds for awarding the title of Art Academic

Mona Schalin (b. 1954) has had a successful career as an architect specialising in building conservation, renovation and the built cultural environment. Her most notable restoration and renovation projects include the National Pensions Institute apartment building area designed by Alvar Aalto, the Urho Kekkonen Museum Tamminiemi, the Serpentine House designed by Yrjö Lindegren, and several of the buildings at the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress. Schalin has also developed the teaching of architectural history and restoration in Finland and the Nordic countries, including as a visiting professor at the Aarhus School of Architecture. She is a member of the Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences in Finland.

Schalin was awarded the Finlandia Prize for Architecture in 2019 and the international Docomomo Prize in 2021 for the design of the renovation of the Serpentine House. The renovation of the Serpentine House was also shortlisted for the EU’s Mies van der Rohe Award in 2022. Schalin was awarded the Knight's Order of the White Rose of Finland in 2019 and the Golden Order of Merit of the Finnish Horticultural Association in 2024.

Schalin has prepared numerous architectural historical papers and cultural environment studies covering local entities. She has held several elected positions, including Chair and Member of the Board of the Finnish Garden Art Society and Member of the International Scientific Committee on Cultural Landscapes (ISCCL) from 2007 to 2011.

Through her research and teaching, Schalin has contributed to the understanding and appreciation of the values of architectural heritage and the built cultural environment, and she has taken a public stand on important current issues. She has been a pioneer in developing methods for the study and restoration of modern architecture.

Interview requests

Laura Manninen, Head of Communications, t. +358 29 533 0843, [email protected]

Further information

Kaisa Rönkkö, Director, t. +358 295 330 874, [email protected]