Play Architecture
Twentieth century architects and their creations on a well-designed pack from Finland.
Although this pack was published in Finland, the architects depicted on the court cards and the buildings and other designs shown on all the aces and numeral cards are from all over the world. Among the architects featured are Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, Antonio Gaudí, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Zaha Hadid (the only female included). The four suits represent Pre-Modernism (D), Modernism (S), Post-Modernism (H), and De-Structuralism (C). On each numeral card one can find the name of the architect, the name of the building or project, the location and the date. A different colour scheme has been used for each suit. The two Jokers are Jacques Derrida and Prince Charles.
Above: Play Architecture playing cards published by The Finnish Building Centre, Finland, 1990. Printed by Piatnik, Vienna, Austria. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 title card in clear plastic box. Size: 58 x 89 mm. © I. Laitinen, M. Metsähonkala, M. Veijovuori, J. Viherkoski and The Finnish Building Centre 1990
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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