The Presidential Palace in Helsinki (in Finnish Presidentinlinna; in Swedish Presidentens slott), is the official residence in Helsinki of the President of the Republic of Finland.
At the beginning of 19th century a salt storehouse stood on the site.
J. H. Heidenstrauch , then one of the elite of Helsinki's merchants, purchased the entire lot and erected a stately residence designed by architect Pehr Granstedt . The house with its two wings more resembled a palace than anything else. In 1837 it actually became one when the construction committee purchased it for the price of 170 000 roubles for official use.
The necessary rebuilding and furnishing work was directed by architect Carl Ludvig Engel, the creator of neoclassical Helsinki. All the timber storehouses behind were torn down and a new wing added. This wing, built along the north of the courtyard, contained on the second floor the chapel (the present library), ballroom, banquet hall in direct connection with the earlier reception floor of the main building, as well as a kitchen.
The Palace was completed in 1845, though repairs had to be made from time to time as mostly it stood empty and was not regularly heated. It was visited for the first time by a member of the imperial family as late as 1851, when the future Tsar and Grand Duke, Alexander II of Russia, visited. During Alexander II's reign the Palace had its most brilliant time. He visited the city three times (1856, 1863, and 1876), staying on each occasion at the Palace. In 1863 the Diet of Finland was opened by Alexander II in the Great Ballroom. The Ballroom was accordingly converted into a throne-room, with the imperial throne in the background.
With Alexander II's death came the end for ever of imperial festivities in the Palace. The iron gates were kept closed, although as late as 1905 a reception suite was added to it. This included the large state reception room with the front hall where "Psyche and Zephyr" by Walter Runeberg , and a reception vestibule facing Mariankatu.
Under the political conditions of World War I the residence was converted into the Military Hospital of the Senate of Finland. In 1917-1918 the revolutionary council of the soldiers and workers stayed in the house, and during the very first years of Finland's independence one of the upper floors served as the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
After the new Constitution was passed in 1919 it was clear that the most suitable residence for the President was in the former imperial palace. Complete repairs were made at speed, the furnishings and art collections were supplemented. Since then, it has been the official residence of the President.
It contains the Office of the President and is used by the President for official functions and receptions.
