On 25 March, Åland Post pays tribute to the ÅSS pavilion, a popular and acclaimed architectural gem in Mariehamn. Artist Carolina Sundelin took on the challenge to capture the special design of the house. “I’d never really noticed the house before. It’s an interesting building and it was fun to discover that the architecture is reminiscent of an Asian building ”, Carolina says.

Designed by Lars Sonck (1870–1956), the ÅSS pavilion is an example of his National Romantic style with influences from Karelia. The log house in gingerbread style was built 1895–99 on a cliff above the harbour as summer villa for Karl Hällberg, a doctor at the spa resort in Mariehamn. After his death, the eagle’s nest, as the house was nicknamed, was bought by the Åland Yacht Club (ÅSS) to be used as clubhouse. In 1922, the building was moved to its current location on the shoreline in the Western harbour, where it serves as a popular summer restaurant today.

Artist Carolina Sundelin took inspiration from photographs of the pavilion from the 1920s when she designed the stamp original in water colour. She also devoted time to personally investigate the nooks and crannies of the building:

“Since focus was to be on the house, I removed advertising images, flagpole and terrace. The many tiny windows on the building and the dragon details proved to be a challenge. Also, the house stands beneath the cliffs with a great number of pine trees in the background, so, the house doesn’t emerge very well. Of the two designs I made, I preferred the one without the cliffs and trees, which also became the one used for the stamp”.

Order stamp and first day cover at webshop.alandpost.com, by post to Åland Post Stamps, P.O. box 1100, AX-22111 Mariehamn, Åland, Finland, e-mail stamps(a)alandpost.com or telephone: +358 18636641.