Founded in 1993 by American Architect and educator, Travis Price, Spirit of Place-Spirit of Design is an international design-build education with a cultural exchange curriculum. SOP teaches students to design architecture that responds to the poetic specificity of the culture, mythology, and the ecology of place. 

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Kalevalakehto was the result of our international exchange between Finnish and American students of design and architecture. We designed Kalevalakehto during a 9-day intensive charette held at the Embassy of Finland in Washington, DC in January 2010, and constructed it in Helsinki over 9 days in late August 2010. 

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The design of the installation was inspired by the themes of the Finnish epic Kalevala: the myth of the 7 eggs of the world’s creation, the mysteries of the Sampo as a metaphor for creativity and innovation, and the shape-shifting shamanic character of Väinämöinen, the main character of the Kalevala. Located on Seurasaari, an island near the city center which serves as a nature reserve, and open-air museum of historic wood architecture, the installation functions as a “think tank,” a meeting place for reflection and creative dialogue.

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”Swirling air and legs alight... the eggs open, spilling out the mystery of creation... launching windswept vessels transporting the sage song-weaver Väinämöinen... always to be rekindled... recreated in Sampo's fiery light, washed upon shores...”