Pentti Koistinen

Lapinlahti (1957)

If you go to the island of Kaijansaari in Lapinlahti, you will see a round chapel, six metres in diameter and with a domed roof. It was built single-handedly by Pentti Koistinen. The roof is a dome in shape, both inside and out. Koistinen built the chapel because he wanted to cheer up all passers-by. He says that it is the only privately owned round chapel in the world that has a dome-shaped roof both inside and out.  

The entrance to the chapel is decorated with a diptych carved by Koistinen. In this work, he wanted to depict tolerance between people, something that is also evident in his optimistic and respectful attitude to everything.  

Text and photos: Jari Ruotsalainen Translation: Kirsti Nurmela-Knox

ITE Art surveys / Northern Savonia 2020–2022