Pikkuparlamentti (Little Parliament), Helsinki

Little Parliament is the modern annex of the Parliament of Finland and an excellent example of contemporary Finnish civic architecture. Completed in 2004, the 11-story building provides nearly 300 offices for members of Parliament, along with committee rooms and administrative facilities.

The annex was built on the site of a former restaurant that gave the building its popular nickname. Its design emphasizes openness through the extensive use of Finnish materials, including native woods and bedrock incorporated into the interior floors. The bright central atrium is one of the building's architectural highlights, while the surrounding meeting rooms are each finished in a different type of Finnish wood.

Visitors can also stop by the public Visitor Centre, which explains how the Finnish Parliament operates through informative displays and presentations about the country's political system and its members. On the ground floor, the Parliament restaurant is open to the public on weekdays and is well regarded for serving high-quality Finnish cuisine at reasonable prices.