Riitta Nikula, Professor Emeritus of Art History, has by no means stopped researching and writing.

– I have written a prolific number and range of texts and have participated in all manner of projects. Today, I have a better appreciation of the fact that I don’t know an awful lot about anything, but I want to know more. The most important measure of knowledge is that you dare to reach for the thing that tickles your curiosity.

Nikula’s book The Finnish Rowhouse (‘Finnish Literature Society 2014) is an example of a work of nonfiction that has found a wider audience and has touched readers because its content is connected to everyday life. The book also earned Nikula the Non-fiction Writers’ Award, given by the Finnish Association of Non-fiction Writers, a prize that was also awarded to Kai Häggman, Tellervo Krogerus, Panu Rajala and Juha Vakkuri in connection with the Helsinki Book Fair in October 2015.

– Luckily Rauno Endén, who retired this autumn from the Finnish Literature society, was my publishing editor for my book on terraced houses. It was a pleasure to work with him.

Over the years Nikula has also published prodigiously in English and has toured the world as a researcher. She has even made a collection of her articles in English at her own expense.

– Now my problem is that I haven’t twigged to collect the articles I have written in Finnish. Next I will try and collect them and my newspaper articles on my webpage.

There is still an endless amount of things to do, although Nikula has tried to slow the pace.

– I have a vague project in my head that I haven’t yet put down on paper. I have also been commissioned to do some smaller pieces.

Nikula has been a sought-after lecturer even after her retirement. She has given individual lectures at the University, but there is not the time for whole series of lectures – nor does University’s constricted budget allow it to utilise docents in teaching as much as earlier.

– In the company of the youth of today feel like an aged Pippi Longstocking. Teaching has always been fun and there should be something experiential connected to it – through conversation things stay better lodged in your mind. The first excursion that I led as a docent was an Eidos-funded trip with 30 students of art history to a divided Berlin. I have been there again with smaller groups and in addition at least to Paris and Stockholm. I believe the students of those trips have also been left with some good memories and knowledge.

Excursions in Finland, even touring Helsinki on foot or by bicycle has been rewarding when the route was carefully planned. Even during my retirement I was asked to lead a cycle ride to observe architecture on a bright, early summer night, an idea I picked up abroad. Even though I didn’t go along with it, I was happy that students also remember how strongly we experienced even such familiar suburbs when we pedalled through them at a time of night when the cars were still asleep and the sun illuminated the streets from a strange direction.

• “Kelpo rivarinpätkä” (‘a decent terraced house’) Keskisuomalainen October 18 2015
• “Riitta Nikula matkasi ympäri Suomea kuvaamassa toista sataa rivitaloaluetta” (Riitta Nikula travelled around Finland photographing over 100 terraced house areas, Helsingin Sanomat January 25, 2015
• The Finnish Rowhouse 1900–1960. From working-class housing to middle-class dream