Education
Helander qualified as an architect in 1967, and completed a further Licentiate degree in architecture in 1972.
Helander qualified as an architect in 1967, and completed a further Licentiate degree in architecture in 1972.
He had been teaching in Helsinki University of Technology, in the position of teaching assistant already since 1963, while still studying, and was an "acting professor" in 1968-1969. In addition to his teaching work, Helander has also worked as an architect. Helander first came to public prominence with the polemical book Kenen Helsinki? (Whose Helsinki?) (1970), written jointly with architect Mikael Sundman.
This was a period when the building rights for many urban centres in Finland had been raised, allowing both owners and property developers to build larger buildings, the consequence of which was the destruction of much of the old urban fabric.
In many cases, the historic facades were preserved and new buildings with denser areas were built behind them. Helander and Sundman"s book was one of the first publications to bring the destruction of the historical Helsinki to public attention.
One of the main examples was the development of the neoclassical Helsinki City Hall being vastly modified by architect Aarno Ruusuvuori. The book was awarded the prestigious Eino Leino Prize in 1971.
Helander went on to specialise in building conservation, both in teaching and in practice.
Helander has also written widely on the subject of the history of Finnish architecture.
Helander is a member of the Finnish Association of Architects. He has been a member of a number of boards, including the Alvar Aalto Foundation (1997-2006), and the City of Helsinki city building inspection commission (1976-1979, 1982-1985).