Helsinki started its history as the capital of Finland in 1812, while the country was under Russian control.
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The German neoclassical architect Carl Ludvig Engel was hired to adapt the city to its new role; some of his buildings, among them the University and the Cathedral of University, stand as landmarks today. The city also has a number of buildings designed by the functionalist architect Alvar Aalto, among them the impressive Finlandia Hall (1971), used for concerts and congresses. A more recent landmark is the Kiasma, a contemporary art museum designed by Steven Holl.
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