Engel's greatest work is the Helsinki Cathedral, earlier called the Church of St. Nicholas. Building of the Cathedral began in 1830, but it was completed only in 1852, 12 years after Engel's death. The church differs from Engel's original plans, however, with its four detached bell towers, two pavilions by the Senate Square, monumental stairs, and statues of the Apostles on the roof.
robably his most
beautiful work is the University Library (1840; Unioninkatu 36) on a hill next
to the University Main Building. Its interior is especially remarkable. The
building adjacent to the library is also designed by Engel (1823), and it has
served as a hospital since 1831. Add all three together and you get a whole 300
metres of façade
all in the Russian Empire style.Opposite to the hospital is the Church of Holy
Trinity (1826) which was the first Orthodox
church in Helsinki.Yet another building by Engel is the observatory at the end
of Unioninkatu and up the Observatory Hill. Designed in 1834, it is still used
by the University of Helsinki.If this is not enough, Engel's important works
include also the first public statue in Helsinki: The Empress' Stone (1835) is
an obelisk made out of granite with a double-headed eagle on top. It was erected
in honor of the visit of Czar Nicholas I and his wife Alexandra in the summer of
1833 upon the site where the imperial couple disembarked (on the Market Square).
This was also the first time that Helsinki saw a steamboat.While
admiring Engel's life's work in Helsinki at Senate Square, you can visit the
popular and elegant café
named
after him. On the walls of Café Engel (Aleksanterinkatu 26) one can find
copies of his architectural designs