alvar aalto tour finland

Alvar Aalto Getaway in Jyväskylä: Two-Day Design Itinerary

* Commercial collaboration with Visit Jyväskylä . Please note that this post has affiliate links. If you buy through my links, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission – thank you!

How does a design and nature-filled Alvar Aalto tour in Jyväskylä sound? Think sunny Päijänne lake islets, red brick houses, marble, Finnish filter coffee, tall pines, strawberry meringue cake, sheltered patios, and forest window views.

I spent my teenage years in Jyväskylä, which has, astonishingly, almost thirty Alvar Aalto buildings.

Naturally, my high school self didn’t pay attention to those. She was busy:

• trying to appear cool at the party held at the Aalto hall of Jyväskylä Worker’s club (yup, an Aalto site)
• checking out boys errr…  the dance practice at Jyväskylä University (by Aalto, of course)

I’m glad I had a chance to right this wrong now and dive deep into Aalto’s designs.

If you are curious to see how Finnish design and architecture blends into nature and everyday life, this self-guided two-day getaway to Jyväskylä is perfect for you!

Psst… Based on my own experiences above and current situation living with a toddler, these activities will probably resonate with adults. Mom, a big thanks for babysitting our peanut.

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Here’s what this post will cover. In the last chapter, I have included the English-Finnish place names, links to check opening times, and addresses to help you navigate. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments!

Table of Contents

Who was Alvar Aalto?

Alvar aalto sites at the jyväskylä university area, alvar aalto block in the city center, where to stay in jyväskylä – alvar aalto style, säynätsalo town hall – the masterpiece, ode to the town hall café & bakery, magical muuratsalo experimental house, logistics for your aalto getaway, options for an aalto guided tour, your alvar aalto itinerary.

Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) was a world-famous Finnish architect and designer. As a Finn, it’s impossible for me to imagine Finland without his influence on our cities, design, and overall aesthetics.

I’m no art expert or architect, but I find that Aalto’s approach is a cool mix of Finnishness and international influences. Like many Finns, he was inspired by nature in his designs.

I especially love his signature modernist look. I would describe it as a combination of:

• raw, natural materials
• calm color palettes
• a distinctive feel of airiness
• undulating shapes
• crisp lines
• surrounding environment

Alvar Aalto worked with an “all in” mindset, designing both the big picture and the tiniest details and fittings of a building. His designs included furniture, textiles, and glassware, too. To me, that is something very Finnish. There’s no point doing a half-arsed job.

My family members living in Muuratsalo tell me Alvar was quite stubborn. They told me that Aalto stoned a neon sign of a local bank because it didn’t suit the aesthetics of Säynätsalo Town Hall.

Alvar Aalto Getaway in Jyväskylä: Day One

Jyväskylä city center has so many Alvar Aalto sites that it just seems unreal! All sites are within walking distance, just remember to wear comfortable shoes. 

If you are an Alvar Aalto newbie like me, start the day by visiting the Alvar Aalto Museum to get an overall picture and fascinating, quirky details of the grand maestro. For example, Aalto was crazy about Italy. He was adamant about sailing on his super sinkable boat every summer. I love knowing things like that!

The museum building itself is by Alvar Aalto. He wanted it to be more of a vibrant, general hub for art design, not a museum about himself as a designer.

The ground floor of the museum has a museum shop and a beautiful cafe & lunch place, called Alvar . The ceramic cream interior got me dreaming of an unnecessary kitchen do-over.

Note that the Alvar Aalto museum is not open on Mondays. Next to it is another building by Aalto: the Museum of Central Finland, which will re-open this autumn after renovation.

Walk uphill 5 minutes to explore the Building C of Jyväskylä University . I particularly love the beautiful hall and huge windows facing the pine forest. There, Belvedere cafeteria offers lunch and coffee on weekdays until 1 pm. It would be my go-to place on a rainy afternoon to read a book or distance work if I still lived in the city.

An example of a typical Finnish home with designs by Alvar and Aino Aalto, Alvar Aalto Museum.

Iconic Artek furniture, Alvar Aalto Museum. 

The beautiful Cafe Alvar, Alvar Aalto Museum. 

The sturdy Building C, Jyväskylä University.

From the university, it’s a 15-minute walk to see the Alvar Aalto block of the city center. This single block boasts with three Aalto buildings: Jyväskylä City Theatre, Central Police Station and Construction Office! Naturally, all of them exude modern period Aalto.

Jyväskylä City Theatre can be checked quite nicely from the massive windows of the terrace and walking around the block and grass area next to the theatre. You’ll be able to access indoors from August 5th (weekdays 12 am – 5 pm).

Both the Central Police Station and Construction Office have windows next to their halls and entrances. You can visit the hallway on weekdays from 8 am to 3 pm as the buildings are in office use.

The last site is in the buzz of the downtown, the cream-colored Jyväskylä Workers’ Club . Most of the ground floor of this building is used by the Revolution restaurant where you can also grab a bite to eat. If you want to check out the grand Aalto hall, you can purchase a sneak peek from the catering company if there’s no event (10€/person).

• A travel tip: Want to know more about all the things to do you can do in Jyväskylä? Check out my detailed guide: 10 Charming Things to Do in Jyväskylä

Jyväskylä City Theatre.

Central Police Station is now in office use. 

Grab the free kit

Ooh, this is such a gem! You can spend the night at an Alvar Aalto site because Säynätsalo Town Hall offers simple Aalto-themed bedrooms and apartments!

They also borrow bikes and suggest awesome forest strolls so you can explore the beautiful nature near-by. The insanely delicious breakfast by the Town Hall Cafe adds the final touch to this experience.

If you want to spend the night in the Jyväskylä city center, try booking the Alvar Aalto room at Hotel Yöpuu. This hotel is one of the bests in town.

The apartment has an inspiring view over the grass patio at Säynätsalo Town Hall.

Be sure to walk around Säynätsalo Town Hall because each corner is unique!

Alvar Aalto Getaway in Jyväskylä: Day Two

For me, the most magical Alvar Aalto buildings in Jyväskylä are Muuratsalo Experimental house and Säynätsalo Town Hall.

Aalto designed the Town Hall to be a multi-function building, and I’m sure he would be proud to see it today.

Säynätsalo Town Hall combines an inspiring researchers’ residence, a unique travelers’ lodge, and a mouth-watering catering into a cool Aalto experience.

If I ever have a doctoral thesis to finish or a book to write, I have found my writer’s retreat! My favorite place is the hallway facing the piazza. I can only admire how Alvar completely re-thought the concept of a corridor and made it the focal point of the entire second floor.

I have now visited the building twice, and its charm hasn’t lost anything. There’s something truly magical about the Town Hall. It’s almost impossible to write it down in words.

Maybe it’s the spirit of Alvar and Elissa’s love which sparked when making the Town Hall or perhaps it’s how extraordinary the light is in this building.

It’s a place where you instantly feel inspired, safe, and calm.

My favorite place at Säynätsalo Town Hall: the L-shaped hallway facing the piazza.

A sunny evening at Säynätsalo Town Hall.

I thought they couldn’t make the Säynätsalo Town Hall any better, but they did – by adding a café with freshly-baked mouth-watering treats.

My savory quiche and divine meringue cake make me drool even now. The owner and baking genius, Hannele makes pretty much all treats from scratch every morning.

The café also has a delicious weekday lunch, which is a favorite all locals and summer inhabitants of the area.

My second favorite place at Säynätsalo Town Hall: anywhere enjoying the building and eating the delicious treats of Säynätsalo Town Hall Café & Bakery.

Muuratsalo Experimental house was Aalto’s summer cabin, giving inspiration and workspace not only to him but the architects working beside him. The huge lakeshore lot on Muuratsalo islet includes the house itself, Aalto’s boat, a unique lakeside smoke sauna, and a boat dock.

The unique character of the house is much due to the design experiments Aalto conducted there.

The grand white castle look is very different from the warmth of the patio and the minimalist interior. At the patio, Aalto and his team tried out various types and patterns of bricks to see how they looked.

Only a forest path leads to the Muuratsalo Experimental house. 

The dock which regularly welcomed guests when Elissa and Alvar lived here.

The smoke sauna with a grass roof was built on natural stones.

Aalto’s boat, named “Nemo propheta in patria” (No-one is a prophet in their own land) appears to tell how Aalto felt about being more recognized architect internationally than in Finland.

The breathtakingly grand look of Muuratsalo Experimental house. 

The house was super modern at the time. It has a water toilet and central heating system. Actually, these are luxury things for many Finnish summer cottages even today!

Muuratsalo Experimental house is still in use by family Aalto. Indoors, the personal belongings of Alvar make me feel like a summer guest who has arrived early. Goosebumps!

Note that you must buy a guided tour to see the house and the exact address is only provided with the ticket. The house is open from June until mid-September and offers guided tours 2-3 times per week. It’s impossible to visit the Experimental house with a pram or wheelchair because the lot has only forest paths.

Next to the bus stop of the bus 16 which takes you to Jyväskylä city center or Säynätsalo Town Hall, is a little cafe called Table en Bois. This cute park cafeteria serves traditional Finnish dishes like pea soup, black sausage, and oven pancake. The dishes were Aalto’s favorites.

The very experimental tiles of the patio. 

The cool interior of Muuratsalo Experimental house. 

This itinerary can be done with or without a car.

You can easily get to Jyväskylä by train or bus. Both options take z. 3,5 hours from Helsinki. The bus tickets are usually cheaper compared to train tickets. The prices of both increase the closer the travel dates come, so book early.

Check out my helpful post about bus and train traveling in Finland and find the correct links to book your long distance logistics.

The city bus takes you from the city center to both Muuratsalo Experimental house and Säynätsalo Town Hall.

The buses 16, 16M and 21 run from Jyväskylä city center to Säynätsalo every half an hour, check out the bus timetable here.

From June to August, you have a fantastic option to take a lake cruise from Jyväskylä harbor to Säynätsalo Town Hall. Here you can find more information about the timetable and details. 

Using a car naturally adds flexibility for your trip. You’ll find free parking everywhere except Jyväskylä city center, which is understandable.

With a car, I recommend also checking Muurame church , which was inspired by Alvar and Aino Aalto’s honeymoon in Italy. It’s easy to visit on your way in or out Säynätsalo Town Hall or Muuratsalo Experimental House.

• A travel tip by car:  Add an extra 20 minutes to your schedule, skip the motorway and drive the insanely gorgeous route from Korpilahti to Asiakkala. This scenic countryside road goes through bridges and ridges over Päijänne lake. You won’t believe how beautiful it is!

Muurame church is a short drive away from Säynätsalo and Muuratsalo. 

Take the lake view road. You won’t regret it!

You can book a dedicated guided tour to discover the sites in Jyväskylä.

I warmly recommend the wonderfully curated Aalto tour by Harri Taskinen , the keeper or Säynätsalo Town Hall and author of an everyman’s Alvar Aalto book in Finnish.

Harri tells about Aalto in a way that resonates and intrigues even if it would be your first time hearing about Alvar Aalto. The tour includes logistics between the sites and the minimum number of participants is two.

Visit Jyväskylä also offers guided two-hour walking tours about Alvar Aalto in the city center: Aalto Andante and Aalto Forte.

Here is an easy copy-paste list for you to check opening times (if a site is available) and to have on the go! In the middle, you can see the place name in Finnish.

Day One / Sites

• Alvar Aalto Museum | Alvar Aalto museo | Address: Alvar Aallon katu 7, Jyväskylä
• Jyväskylä University, Building C | Jyväskylän Yliopisto | Address: Seminaarinkatu 15, Jyväskylä
• Jyväskylä City Theatre | Jyväskylän Kaupunginteatteri | Address: Vapaudenkatu 36, Jyväskylä
• Central Police Station | Tietotalo | Address: Kilpisenkatu 1, Jyväskylä
• Construction office | Virastotalo | Address: Hannikaisenkatu 17, Jyväskylä
• Jyväskylä workers’ club ( inquire: a paid private viewing ) | Jyväskylän Työväentalo | Address: Väinönkatu 7, Jyväskylä

Day One / Restaurant or Coffee Spot 

• Cafe Alvar at Alvar Aalto Museum | Address: Alvar Aallon katu 7, Jyväskylä
• Belvedere Campus Restaurant at Jyväskylä University | Address: Seminaarinkatu 15, Jyväskylä
• Revolution Bar, Kitchen & Pub at Jyväskylä workers’ club | Address: Väinönkatu 7, Jyväskylä
• Säynätsalo Town Hall | Säynätsalon kunnantalo | Address: Parviaisentie 9, Säynätsalo
• Yöpuu Hotel | Address: Yliopistonkatu 23, Jyväskylä

Day Two / Sites

• Muuratsalo Experimental House | Muuratsalon koetalo | Address: Given with a purchased ticket, Muuratsalo

Day Two / Restaurant or Coffee Spot 

• Town Hall Café & Bakery at Säynätsalo Town Hall | Address: Parviaisentie 9, Säynätsalo
• Table en Bois , near Muuratsalo Experimental House | Address: Vuorenlahdenkatu 38, Muuratsalo

Are you going to visit an Alvar Aalto site when in Finland? Which one? Is there something else you’d like to know about Aalto or Jyväskylä? Let me know in the comments!

If you are looking for more information about Jyväskylä and Finnish culture, check out some of my other posts:

• 10 Charming Things to Do in Jyväskylä
• Epic Finland Summer Guide: 20 Practical and Cultural Tips
• 30 Cultural Things on Finland that Help You Understand a Finn
• How to Pick the Best Finland Guide Book for You!
• Quick Guide to Finnish Language Basics

About Varpu I’m the founder of Her Finland. I love cultural tidbits, aha moments, Finnish folklore, and cinnamon buns. My newest interest is learning bird songs. Read more about me..

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Paulo Nobre

Friday 28th of June 2019

Jyväskylä is truly even more special than what I tought after beeing there for two times already :)

Kiitos paljon for showing us these jewels and special places.

Aalto had an unique view in architecture

Varpu Pöyry

Sunday 30th of June 2019

Thank you so much for your comment Paulo! Yes, it is such a fantastic city and the Aalto sites are so inspiring! Happy to know you liked this post!

Sheila Packa

Monday 17th of June 2019

Thank you for this article. The photographs are inspiring, and your travel writing is excellent. Definitely, I will plan a trip when I am in Finland.

Friday 21st of June 2019

Hei Sheila! I'm so happy to hear that, kiitos! These sites are fantastic and will make such wonderful activities when you are in Finland!

Wednesday 12th of June 2019

I Will definitely pay a visit, when I am ín Finland ??????????????

Saturday 15th of June 2019

Hei Judit, these all are such perfect summer destinations! You will like them so much!

ANGELA KOPONEN

Fantastic itinerary!

Thank you so much, Angela! It's a great little roadtrip! <3

We will be visiting this area next week and will be looking forward to seeing some of these beautiful sites. Thank you!

Hei Pauline! Oh, that's so great, Lakeland is gorgeous during the summer and these Aalto sites are just breathtaking! <3

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Alvar Aalto Grand Tour 05.-11. August 2024

Visit the most important Alvar Aalto heritage places during this magnificent  New Alvar Aalto Tour!

During this new alvar aalto tour we visit the following destinations:.

Born in the small rural municipality of Kuortane, Alvar Aalto graduated as an architect in 1921 from the Technical University of Helsinki. In 1923, he established his first office in Jyväskylä, carrying the grandiose name “Arkkitehtuuri-ja monumentaalitaiteen toimisto” (Office of Architectural and Monumental Art). The office first moved to Turku and from there ultimately to Helsinki in the early 1930s.

Designed in tandem with his wife Aino Aalto, also an architect, the family’s home was completed in Munkkiniemi in Helsinki in 1936. At that time, the Munkkiniemi area was not yet officially a part of Helsinki. The Aalto house now serving as a home museum was also designed to have a studio wing for use by the architectural office. Aalto knew the area well: as an example, in the early 1930s he designed a residential area (which never materialised) for the M.G. Stenius company in Munkkiniemi. The housing area designed for the employees of the National Pensions Institute were, in turn, completed in Munkkiniemi in 1954.

A new building was built in 1955 in Munkkiniemi near Aalto’s home to serve the needs of the expanding architectural office. Alvar Aalto’s studio is now the head office of the Alvar Aalto Foundation and a popular attraction among architectural travellers.

Several buildings designed by Alvar Aalto have been erected in the Helsinki region over the years. The head office of the National Pensions Institute and Enso-Gutzeit Co. Headquarters with their interiors were designed with great care down to the minutest detail for the needs of demanding clients. The centre of Helsinki houses buildings open to the public, such as the Rautatalo Office Building and the Academic Bookstore as well as Restaurant Savoy, which has kept its original interior from 1937 designed jointly by Aino and Alvar Aalto.

The House of Culture was completed near the centre of Helsinki in 1958. You can get to explore this building with a rich history and still used for versatile concerts and other cultural events during guided tours.

In 1959, the City Executive Board of Helsinki commissioned Alvar Aalto to draw up a plan for the central Kamppi-Töölönlahti area. Aalto outlined a new monumental centre for Helsinki, but ultimately only a small portion of the plans were brought to fruition – the Finlandia Hall is the only building of the row of cultural buildings planned along the Töölönlahti bay that was ever built.

The Finlandia Hall was designed as a conference and concert venue, and it is one of the last buildings designed by Aalto’s office. The Finlandia Hall was designed in 1967 to 1971 and 1973 to 1975. Alvar Aalto died in 1976, soon after the Finlandia Hall was ready.

Paimio Sanatorium

The building completed in 1933 as Paimio Sanatorium was of key importance to the international career of architects Alvar and Aino Aalto. Together with Vyborg (Viipuri) Library, completed two years later, it gave the Aaltos an international profile. Finnish architecture was no longer merely the receiver of influences from outside.

The building, constructed on the basis of their win in an architectural competition resolved in 1929, was groundbreaking. A tuberculosis sanatorium was particularly suitable for a building which followed the tenets of the new Functionalism, where bold concrete structures and state-of-the-art building services were inseparable elements of architecture and practicality.

Aalto designed the interior colour scheme, including the yellow floors in the main staircase, the colourful walls in the corridors, the dark ceilings in the patients’ rooms and the orange balcony rails, in conjunction with the decorative artist Eino Kauria.

The entire building complex, grouped together in several parts according to use, was constructed in accordance with Aalto’s philosophy, right down to the smallest details of the furniture. As far as the loose furniture was concerned, a good many items designed specifically for the sanatorium were used, as well as standard products which were already available. According to the idea of standardisation, which belonged to the spirit of the times, these items were also planned for use elsewhere – for example, many of the light fittings ended up in the catalogue of the Taito metalworks.

The pieces of furniture became key products for Artek, which was founded in 1935. The bent plywood Paimio chair in particular has become an international design icon. On the other hand, the three-legged stool, which is the same age as the sanatorium, was not included in the first phase of the furniture supplied by the Otto Korhonen furniture works. The furniture in the patients’ rooms was dominated by tubular-steel construction, soon to be spurned by the Aaltos.

An operating theatre wing designed by Aalto’s office was added to the main building in the late 1950s and new staff living-quarters were erected nearby in the 1960s. The sinuous, serpentine row of shared flats in the middle of the pine forest, known to the inmates as the ‘Hall of Vipers (Kyykartano), brought a new form of accommodation to the area.

Architect Alvar Aalto lived in Turku 1927 – 1933. This period saw the rise of a new era of architecture and furniture design. Aalto co-operated with Erik Bryggman, one of the earliest representatives of Finnish functionalist architecture, who had founded an office in Turku in early 1920s.

The office for the newspaper Turun Sanomat is an Aalto-designed office building located in city centre, constructed in 1928-29. Turku region is also home to furniture factory Korhonen, the traditional manufacturer of Artek furniture.

The Office Building for Turun Sanomat Newspaper, along with Aalto’s other works, Southwestern Finland Agricultural Cooperative Building and the Standard Apartment House, are included in the listing of Built Cultural Environments of National Importance. The international Docomomo organization also includes these sites in its list of iconic 1920s-1970s Finnish modernist sites.

The Terraced House at the Kauttua Works in Eura is a vivid example of the desire of the architect to integrate the building into the natural environment: the multi-storey residential building adapts to the slope, so the entrance of each apartment is on ground level. Completed in 1938, the Terraced House in Kauttua is one of Alvar Aalto’s most prominent works also internationally. It was an ordered assignment, and intended as the dwelling for the senior clerical employees of Ahlström Osakeyhtiö Corporation. The assignment also stemmed from Alvar Aalto’s friendship with the company’s CEO Harry Gullichsen and his wife Maire Gullichsen.

Located within the Noormarkku Works area, Villa Mairea was built in 1939 to serve as the home of Maire (née Ahlström) and Harry Gullichsen. The progressive couple were patrons of the arts, and they were interested in the clean-cut expression of modernism. Their good friends, the architects Aino and Alvar Aalto, had an opportunity to apply free and experimental design in the planning of Villa Mairea.

These favourable circumstances gave rise to a unique work of art, which is currently considered an international masterpiece in 20th century architecture. Interior design for Villa Mairea was in the hands of Aino Aalto.

As an architectural whole, the Administrative and Cultural Centre in Seinäjoki is unique on a global scale. Seinäjoki is also the location of the Defence Corps Building built in 1924-26, one of the rare works from Aalto’s youth. The Administrative and Cultural Centre consists of six buildings and the Civic Square completed in 1988.

The Administrative and Cultural Centre in Seinäjoki emerged from two architectural competitions, and it was built in 1958 to 1988.

Aalto Centre

Alvar Aalto won a church architecture competition arranged by the Parish of Seinäjoki with his plan “Lakeuksien risti”, Cross of the Plains, in 1951. Seven years later, he won the design competition for the centre of Seinäjoki. Aalto was commissioned to design the town hall, library, theatre and government office building, all of which he had outlined in his competition suggestion.

Aalto’s architectural office designed not only the buildings of the Administrative and Cultural Centre but also the outdoor lighting fixtures, barriers, surface materials for yard areas and plants for the Centre.

Civic Square

Alvar Aalto’s plans for the centre of Seinäjoki were based on monumental but easily approachable squares and other open areas between public buildings. When Aalto was young, he admired the antique cultures, and this is reflected as a forum which was also influenced by the Italian piazzas.

The buildings around the Civic Square in Seinäjoki – the Town hall, Library and Seinäjoki theatre – border the square paved with granite paving and cobblestone. According to Aalto’s suggestion, the square was designed for conferences and summer meetings, and of course as a meeting place of citizens. Alvar Aalto wished that squares intended for the assembly of people would promote a “new renaissance” for the forming and exchange of opinions through social interaction.

The Aalto Centre was built gradually. The last part to be completed was the Civic Square with its fountain and plantings. The paving of the square continues on the eastern side across the street, linking the administrative and cultural buildings to the church buildings. This constitutes an overall work of art of six buildings and the square.

The city of Alajärvi in the Southern Ostrobothnia is located close to Alvar Aalto’s childhood hometown Kuortane. Aalto spent his childhood summers in Alajärvi and later had his own summer house there up to 1940s. For him Alajärvi represented leisure time with family and relatives in contrast to the hectic work at the office with all the assignments and architecture competitions. Later Aalto reminisced the place and called it his spiritual home.

In the scenic Alajärvi one can see buildings from the long span of Aalto’s career, from the earliest assignments to the last of his office. At the Alajärvi Administrative and Cultural Centre there are 11 locations, including the recently renovated Villa Väinölä, a home Aalto designed for his brother.

By the lake in Alajärvi there is the Alajärvi Church (1836), designed by the famous architect C.L. Engel. Aalto used to have a seat in the church loft in his youth. In the beautiful churchyard you can see e.g. war memorials designed by Alvar Aalto and the Aalto family grave.

The Administrative and Cultural Centre in Alajärvi consists of two municipal offices, the Parish Centre, Youth Association building, the former Municipal Hospital, a Health Station, Villa Väinölä and the City Library, which was finished by the architect studio of Aalto.

In addition there are the three memorials and the summer house Villa Flora, that Aalto designed for him and his wife Aino Aalto. Today Villa Flora is under private ownership.

The lobby of the Alajärvi town hall houses  Muodon Vuoksi , an exhibition of the classic 1930s glass design of Alvar and Aino Aalto.

Alajärvi was a town dear to Aalto and he put his heart and soul into the local projects. The countryside was his retreat during the busy creative years.

The Nelimarkka Museum in Alajärvi was founded by the painter and professor Eero Nelimarkka (1891-1977) in 1964. The building was designed by his friend, the architect Hilding Ekelund. Since 1995 it has functioned as the Regional Art Museum of Southern Ostrobothnia. It focuses on displaying regional Ostrobothnian art but art education also plays an important role.

Temporary exhibitions, workshops and events for visitors of all ages are organized regularly. Since the mid- 1980s the museum has also provided an international residency program for artists.

In summertime you can enjoy coffee and cake in the light atmosphere of Café de Nelimarkka. The museum shop is open year-round. You can book a customized tour or workshop at the museum. Nelimarkka museum maintains the near-by Villa Nelimarkka and Villa Väinölä, located in the centre of Alajärvi.

In Jyväskylä, the city of lakes and hills in the heart of the Finnish Lakeland, you’ll find the largest number of masterful buildings in the whole world designed by the world-famous architect and academician Alvar Aalto.

The impressive portfolio of 28 locations includes, for instance, the Alvar Aalto Museum, Muurame Church and Säynätsalo Town Hall, which is regarded as one of Aalto’s finest works.

Alvar Aalto also went to school, started a family and began his illustrious career in Jyväskylä. The city of Jyväskylä is home to Aalto creations from the very start of his career right through to designs from his final years.

In Jyväskylä you’ll tread in the master’s footsteps from classicism to functionalism and from brickarchitecture to monumentalism!

Tour date: The next tour will be arranged upon interest in August 2024.If you are interested in this tour please send us a message at [email protected] .

Tour programme:

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Country: Finland

Alvar aalto in helsinki.

A tour to Alvar Aalto´s works, both private and public, with visits to the finest interiors, is a must have!

Architect Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) grew up from a boy who built elaborate snow castles under imperial Russian rule, to be the head designer for the new republic. A one-day tour can take you to see some of his masterworks, with visits inside. At the same time you are taken to follow his development as an architect and person. The Finlandia Hall is an example of Aalto’s monumental side, while the National Pensions Building and the House of Culture for the Communist Party reveal his socially broad-minded attitude. Aalto’s cosy studio brings to life the numerous anecdotes about him.

Are you interested in finding out more about Alvar Aalto´s work in Helsinki area, contact us!

Carbon neutral and energy efficient office building

Explore some of the new office and hybrid use developments with sustainable solutions!

Wood construction is traditionally a distinctive part of Nordic architecture. Ecological innovations combatting climate change are arising from this tradition. For example, construction technologies related to multistorey timber buildings are developing rapidly. One of the most interesting, ongoing massive timber frame construction project in Finland is Wood City, a development in Jätkäsaari-Ruoholahti bay area. This, up to eight stories tall building complex, is constructed entirely from wood, including the supporting structures. It is a mixed-use building complex containing e.g. the headquarters of Supercell, the famous mobile game developer.

On the other side of the bay, Telakkaranta district is being developed. The new headquarters of European Chemicals Agency ECHA form a landmark of the area. The development consists of several sustainable and carbon-wise solutions. For example, the eight storey high building has been partly build on top of an old building, whose exterior has been protected. The use of brick and its metal cladding connects the building to the dockyard surroundings.

On the other side of the city centre, the headquarters of the OP bank is an excellent example of how an office building can form a small community providing all the services you may need in your daily life. This saves time and cuts emissions when less travelling is needed. The very fine and high quality details of the building by JKMM Architects uplift the day!

Would you like to get to know some exciting new developments?

Walking tour in the city centre

Book a walking tour in Helsinki city centre with short visits to public interiors to see the architectural gems!

City walk in the centre of Helsinki, Finland 2-3 hours

Finnish architecture from the late nineteenth century to the present day is presented as its best in the central area of Helsinki. At the very heart of Helsinki, the changes in style and the rise of modern movement can be followed on a well-planned walking tour.

The historical centre of Helsinki consists of the neoclassical Senate Square, designed by Carl Ludvig Engel. At the turn of the twentieth century the buildings were decorated with motifs from the Finnish mythology and forests. In the 1930s, most Finnish architects, including Alvar Aalto, took to modernism. His development as an architect can be observed in several buildings in the central area. In addition to Aalto, there are the works of several other Finnish modernists worth seeing! Today, central Helsinki is continuously developed, and several aspirational projects have been completed in recent years.

Would you like to book a tour in the city centre? Get in touch!

Modern housing and high-rise building

Study modern housing, intelligent infrastructure and hybrid high-rise developments in one tour, meet designers and planners!

High- and low-rise developments are arising on the both sides of the city centre. These new urban developments contain several interesting solutions in socially mixed housing, urban infrastructure and logistics, as well as mixed use and energy efficiency.

Helsinki is constantly developing its shoreline areas around the city centre. Jätkäsaari is a former harbour that is being converted into a dense urban housing area. Innovative residential architecture and various forms of housing is displayed in just a few blocks’ area. The central waste management system is highly developed and there are high-quality public parks. The planning policies can be further discussed with a Helsinki city presentative along the tour.

Similarly, on the other side of town, the former harbour area of Kalasatama is being built along the coast, providing great traffic connections, while still maintaining a feel of a cosy neighbourhood with its townhouses and playful public art. Situated next to Kalasatama metro station is Majakka, a high-rise development consisting of apartment blocks rising on top of shopping centre facilities. The development contains several ecological solutions, such as a rooftop garden, which can be presented by one of the designers.

Are you interested in a study trip to the modern neighbourhoods of Helsinki? Contact us, and we will plan a tour tailored for your group.

Helsinki offers a variety of interesting developments and themes to explore, both in new and old architecture, as well as sustainable solutions and innovative housing and urban planning.

In the city centre, we take you on a tour of Finnish architecture from 19th century to present day. You will see Alvar Aalto’s world-renowned modernist buildings, as well as gems of Jugendstil/Art Nouveau architecture. You will also take a look at the most recent Finnish architecture, such as the wooden Kamppi Chapel of Silence, Helsinki University campus library Kaisa, the Think Corner open space, as well as the lobby and courtyard of the new underground Amos Rex Museum, to name a few. You will hear about the Töölö Bay masterplan, admire the Finlandia Hall exterior, take a walk through the Music Centre and of course visit inside the new central library Oodi, awarded the 2019 Public Library of the Year.

In Otaniemi, the Aalto University Campus offers classic architectural gems such as Dipoli, Otaniemi Chapel and the Aalto Undergraduate Centre, combined with new projects such as the Väre building, home to the Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture, and the award-winning Harald Herlin Learning Centre. The area creates an exciting hub of education, working and living with an international community, providing an easy 10-minute commute to the city centre with the new West Metro and its new stations.

Helsinki is constantly developing new areas around its centre. Jätkäsaari has become an area of innovative housing solutions and international travel with its new ferry terminal. Similarly, on the other side of town, the area of Kalasatama is being built along the coast, providing great traffic connections and commercial facilities, while still feeling like a cozy neighbourhood with its townhouses. Up and coming is also the large area of Laajasalo, combining living, the sea and nature, which will next be connected to the centre by easy access over Crown Bridges, due to be completed in 2026.

Sustainability can be seen in the Finnish architectural scene most visibly in the use of wood, that can be found in various areas of the city, in many different uses. Some of the most interesting projects include Wood City in Jätkäsaari, the wooden housing and architecture of Viikki and upcoming neighbourhoods of Honkasuo and Kuninkaantammi, and the award-winning public sauna Löyly.

Helsinki offers an endless list of fascinating projects to explore. Contact us, and we will plan a tour tailored for your group.

Related articles

New school architecture in the helsinki region.

Explore innovative learning spaces which form an integral part of the internationally acclaimed Finnish school system.

Helsinki and Espoo, Finland 1-2 days

Finland´s successful education system is supported by high quality architecture in schools, day-care centres, universities and public buildings. Their innovative learning spaces are an integral part of the internationally acclaimed Finnish school system. Many of the designs have been selected through architectural competitions. Helsinki and Espoo constitute a growing region with a large number of day-care centre and school construction projects.

A tour can take you to several learning spaces. In addition to visits, you can have the opportunity to meet both the designers and users of some of the schools. While new schools exhibit the current trends in education architecture, older campuses have shown to stand the test of time and meet the needs of today. A good example of the new and old learning spaces is  the Aalto University campus, which was originally designed by Alvar Aalto. In recent years new buildings, such as Väre building, have given a new vibe to the area.

Are you interested in visiting schools and educational centres? Contact us, and we will plan a tour tailored for your group.

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The Architecture Of Alvar Aalto: A Finnish Icon

Alvar Aalto is a name synonymous with Finnish architecture. A prolific worker, it is estimated that Aalto designed approximately 500 buildings over the course of his 50 year career. All were defined by his guiding design principle of gesamtkunstwerk, whether designed in the style of functionalism during his modernist stage, or in his later monumentalism phase. We examine the work of the iconic Finnish architect and his lasting legacy today. Finlandia Hall | © Cecil Born in 1898 in the small Finnish town of Kuortane, architect and designer Alvar Aalto is not only one of Finland’s most celebrated and well-known figures, but one of the most acclaimed architects of the 20th century. His work can be recognized by a number of elements. For example, his commitment to designs that create a sense of warmth and humanity as opposed to sheer function, or his dedication to the concept of gesamtkunstwerk, literally meaning “a work of art.” Aalto interpreted gesamtkunstwerk as a necessity in all areas of building design, from the structural to the interior’s finishes and furnishings. At a young age Alvar Aalto took the first steps towards his architectural career and enrolled at the Helsinki University of Technology in 1916 to study architecture. Though his education was disrupted by the Finnish Civil War, in which he fought alongside his fellow students for independence from the Russian Empire, the talented and determined Aalto returned to his studies with gusto, graduating with distinction in 1921. By 1923 he returned to Jyväskylä , the city in which he lived during the majority of his childhood. There he set up his own architectural firm and shortly after was commissioned to design a number of residential properties. In 1924 he married his assistant Aino Marsio, also an experienced architect, who became integral to his signature style and practice. It was during the late 1920s that Aalto’s career really began to take off and the style that defined his early career, functionalism, came into being. In 1927 Aalto won a competition to design the Southwestern Finland Agricultural Cooperative Building in Turku , a large, square, multi-purpose structure much more prosaic in comparison to his later works. It was perhaps two years later in 1929, after winning a competition to design the Paimio Tuberculosis Sanatorium , that Aalto’s signature design ethos came into play. Completed in 1932, and built in a style at a crossroads between functionalism and modernism, the Paimio Sanatorium – a long, curving building – is thought by many to be one of Aalto’s most significant designs of his early career. His plans for the sanatorium were guided by his idea that a building and its interior should complete its original function while incorporating a sense of warmth and humility. Thus, the Paimio Sanatorium featured accessible sun terraces on each floor, and bedrooms designed specifically around the patients’ needs to create this homeliness. This was something quite rare among his contemporaries – “He designed warm and curving buildings that were unlike the mechanistic, coolly geometrical, abstract designs of his European peers,” as Jonathan Glancey of The Guardian said of Aalto’s unique approach.

It was during the design of the sanatorium that Aalto’s career came into fruition. With comfort in mind, he created the Paimio Chair for the sanatorium patients. However it was the design of the chair rather than its functionality that helped propel him to prominence throughout Europe and which made it a modern Finnish staple. In 1935 Aalto and his wife formed Artek , a furniture design company that is still in operation today and produces and sells the Paimio Chair. Given his prolificacy as an architect, its perhaps ironic that it was the Paimio Chair which helped establish his defining design principle of gesamtkunstwerk .

Aalto’s success increased exponentially and internationally in the 1940s. He became a visiting professor at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, where he also designed the Baker House student dormitory. By the 1950s, Aalto was a fully established and respected artist in his own right and was contracted to design several prominent buildings in his homeland. For example, the Kulttuuritalo – or House of Culture – in Helsinki, which is known for its iconic red brick undulating form. During the 1950s and 1960s, Aalto received critical acclaim from his peers and was awarded the Royal Gold Medal by the Royal Institute Of British Architects in 1957 as well as the esteemed Gold Medal from the American Institute Of Architects in 1963. In the last decade of his life, Aalto was still as prolific an architect as ever, contracted to build significant buildings including Helsinki’s Finlandia Hall , a monumental structure that dominates the skyline of the Finnish capital’s Töölönlahti Bay. Completed in 1971, the building features Aalto’s signature undulating curves and trademark concern for gesamtkunstwerk. Interior design elements such as white marble creates synergy with the Hall’s striking white façade. Though he died in 1976, Aalto’s work – both architectural and design – has left a lasting legacy today. Twelve years after his death in 1988, his design for the Aalto Theatre in Essen, Germany, originally conceived in 1959, was finally realized, and the furniture design company he established, Artek, still sells many of his designs today. Alvar Aalto, icon of Finnish architecture, contributed many aspects to modern and postmodern architecture, though his most significant contribution and achievement is most likely his practice of gesamtkunstwerk. His practice of gesamtkunstwerk refined his ability to conceptualize a building as an organic whole; create structures that are both functional and human and connected at all levels; and most of all construct structures that have stood the test of time and are still revered long after his death. By Helen Armitage

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Alvar Aalto's South-East Finland

Explore the Alvar Aalto Route in Southeastern Finland, where timeless architecture meets breathtaking nature. This 450-kilometer journey winds through the eastern Gulf of Finland , South Saimaa, the Kymi River , and the eastern border, showcasing internationally acclaimed Finnish design.

Kymenlaakso, rightfully called the “Aalto Province,” boasts the highest concentration of Aino and Alvar Aalto’s architectural gems in a single Finnish region. Aalto’s structures harmoniously blend with the landscape, offering a seamless connection to nature. The interplay of nature and light was of utmost importance to Aalto, resulting in a captivating architectural style that continues to fascinate travelers.

Architecture, history, and design enthusiasts can immerse themselves in Aalto’s creations for days and even stay in Aalto-designed apartments adorned with his signature style. The route encompasses seven areas with Aalto’s influence:

• Strömfors Factory Residential Buildings : Experience the well-preserved Strömfors Ironworks community, including a two-family house redesigned into an inn, respecting its originality.
• Karhula Apartment Buildings in Kotka : Discover Karhula’s residential buildings, affectionately known as the “tennis houses,” designed by Aalto between 1945 and 1947.
• Sunila Factory and Worker’s Residential Area in Kotka : Immerse yourself in Sunila ‘s large, unified residential area, a testament to Aalto’s 1930s modernism.
• Petkele Residential Area in Hamina : Explore the Summa paper mill milieu designed by Aalto and his apartment designs in the Petkele residential area.
• Imatra : Admire The Church of The Three Crosses in Vuoksenniska (1957), a masterpiece of modern church architecture, representing Aalto’s functionalist style.
• Imatra Type Houses : See Aalto’s C-type houses in Kurkvuori (1950-1955) and other Aalto-style residences in Imatra.
• Kouvola Barracks Area Gates : Witness the natural stone main gate’s columns and iron fence, designed by Aalto, and the granite columns of the Marjoniemi barracks gate.

The Aalto Route also offers accommodation in Aalto-designed apartments at Strömfors Ironworks and Sunila . Enjoy guided tours to Aalto destinations in Inkeroinen and savor Ankkapurha Cultural Park’s services. Immerse yourself in modernism and functionalism in Imatra and witness Aalto’s influence on the city’s general station plan.

Discover the legacy of Aino and Alvar Aalto in a journey that seamlessly blends architecture and nature, creating an unforgettable experience for travelers. Watch the route video and navigate with Outdoor Active .

A warm welcome to enjoy the cultural heritage of the East Coast of Finland!

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Finland: Alvar Aalto architecture

Finland is a country more vital and brilliant than one might expect. Surrounded by a beautiful natural environment of lakes and forests, we find exceptional buildings, among them some of the most important examples of modern architecture .  

An architectural visit to Finland must include a tour through the  Alvar Aalto architecture, one of the masters of 20th century architecture.  

His extensive work is mainly found here. As we travel through Finland, we will take the opportunity to see other architecture: in Turku, Finland’s oldest city, we find a gothic cathedral and in Helsinki , from its city center of neoclassical building to the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art by Steven Holl , built in 1998.  

“Every building, every architectural work is a symbol that represents our intention to build a paradise on Earth ,” said Alvar Aalto in 1958.

– Preparation of itinerary and tours guided by an architect throughout the trip. – Private bus for entire trip. – Lodging in 3* hotel in double room. – Breakfast. – Transport to/from airports. – Public transport pass in Helsinki. – Organized entrance tickets. – Basic travel insurance.

MAIN INTERIOR VISITS

• – Alvar Aalto Museum, A. Aalto. – Villa Mairea. A. Aalto. – Helsinki, University of Technology A. Aalto. – Church of the Cross, A. Aalto. – Paimio Sanitorium. A. Aalto. – Jyväskylä University. A. Aalto.

SUGGESTED ITINERARY 8 DAYS THROUGH THE ALVAR AALTO ARCHITECTURE

DAY 1 – HELSINKI (Flight)

DAY 2 – HELSINKI – LAHTI – JYVÄSKYLAÄ

DAY 3 – JYVÄSKYLAÄ

DAY 4 – SÄYNÄTSALO AND SEINÄJUKI

DAY 5 – NOORMARKKU – RAUMA – TURKU

DAY 6 – TURKU – PAIMIO – HELSINKI

DAY 7 – HELSINKI – ESPOO

DAY 8 – HELSINKI (Return flight to UK)

DAY 1 – HELSINKI (Flight)​

Arrival in Helsinki, private bus to hotel. Visit House of Culture, Finland Hall, Rautatalo, former commercial building, Nordic Investment Bank, University Bookstore, all by Alvar Aalto architecture.

Train station, Eliel Saarinen. Temppeliaukio Church, T & T Suomalainen. Kiasma, Museum of Contemporary Art, Steven Holl. Night in Helsinki.

  DAY 2 – HELSINKI – LAHTI JYVÄSKYLAÄ

Breakfast at the hotel. Organized tour in the morning: House and study of A. Aalto. We will also see the historical neoclassical city center: Senate Square, Cathedral, Government Palace, University and National Library (Carl Ludvig Engel), Presidential Palace, Market Square, City Hall. Parliament, Sibelius monument, Eila Hiltunen. National Pensions Building, A. Aalto.

From the hotel in Helsinki we will travel by bus to Lahti. Visit Church of the Cross, A. Aalto. From Lahti we will travel by bus to Jyväskylä.

Check in and night in Jyväskylä.

  DAY 3 – JYVÄSKYLAÄ ​

Breakfast ar the hotel. Morning visits to: Jyväskylä Workers Club, Viitatorni Apartments, Nuora House, Aira Apartments, Defense Building, University of Jyväskylä (Main teaching building, former student residence, “Lozzi” cafeteria, “Lythy” Professor meeting room, pool, Physical Education building).

Cultural and administrative center, Police Quarters, theater and office. All by A. Aalto. Lunch on your own. Alvar Aalto Museum. Central Finland Museum, A. Aalto.

Return to hotel. Dinner and free evening. Night in Jyväskylä.​

DAY 4 – SÄYNÄTSALO AND SEINÄJUKI ​

Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting to prepare for the day’s tour. Säynätsalo City Hall, Muurame Church, Experimental House in Muuratsalo A. Aalto.

Lunch on your own. Travel by bus from Jyväskylä to Seinäjoki. Check in hotel, dinner and free evening.Night in Seinäjoki.

DAY 5 – NOORMARKKU – RAUMATURKU ​

Breakfast at the hotel. Places to visit in Seinäjoki: Defense Corps Building, Cultural and Administrative center, Church and parochial center, City Hall, Library, Government offices and theater.

All by A. Aalto. Bus from Seinajöki to Noormarkku and lunch on your own. Visit Villa Mairea by A. Aalto. Bus from Noormarkku to Rauma. Visit former center of Rauma. Bus from Rauma to Turku.

Check in hotel, dinner and free evening. Night in Turku.

DAY 6 – TURKU – PAIMIO – HELSINKI ​

Breakfast in the hotel. Exterior tour of Turku: Agricultural Cooperative Building, Apartment buildings, Turun Sanomat newspaper building, all by A. Aalto. Castle (13th – 16th century) and Cathedral 13th century).

Bus from Turku to Paimio. (half an hour) Sanatorium A. Aalto. Lunch on your own. Bus from Paimio to Hvitträsk. Visit house and study of Gesellius, Lindgren, and Saarinen. Return from Hvitträsk to Helsinki. Lodging in Helsinki. Check in hotel, dinner and free evening. Night in Helsinki.

​ DAY 7 – HELSINKI – ESPOO ​

Breakfast in the hotel. Bus from Helsinki to Espoo (regular line). Helsinki University of Technology, Alvar Aalto architecture: main building, sports center, Electrical center, Student residence, Library, Water Tower.

Return to Helsinki, lunch and free afternoon in the city. Return to hotel. Night in Helsinki.

DAY 8 – HELSINKI AND RETURN

Breakfast in the hotel. Check out of hotel.

Transport to Helsinki airport.

Return flight to UK.

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Aalto tours in Finland – all year round

Architects Aino and Alvar Aalto were pioneers of modern Finnish architecture and design. Their designs can be found in Finnish homes and buildings in Finnish cities.

Explore the new European Cultural route: Alvar Aalto Route – 20th Century Architecture and Design, and discover shapes, forms, colours and Finnish lifestyle.

We will be happy to plan a travel route for you to suit your schedule and your budget. We will book visits, guides, accommodation, food and transport. Itineraries from one day upwards.

Choose one, several or all of these Aalto locations and come explore!! See our succestions below.

Helsinki was the last hometown of the Aaltos, so the Aalto home and studio should be visited, as well as many public buildings in Finnish capital, and Otaniemi Campus in the neighbouring town.

Raasepori boasts the lovely Villa Schildt, that was recently opened to the public.

Paimio Sanatorium propelled the Aaltos to international fame. A must-visit.

Turku is not only Finland’s oldest town, but also home to it’s first modern buildings. These were designed by both Aaltos and Erik Bryggman.

Kauttua has a lot of workers’ housing and the wonderful Terraced House. The Riverside Sauna is available for modern bathers as well.

Noormarkku is famous for one of the finest villas, Villa Mairea, full of art. Also one of the must-visits. In Vainiola you can fall asleep to Aalto-inspired dreams.

Seinäjoki and its Aalto Center are delightful, not to mention the Lakeuden Risti church.

Jyväskylä is full of Aalto buildings. There is plenty to choose from, but at least visit the University campus and the Alvar Aalto museum (opens renovated summer 2023)

Säynätsalo town hall lets you familiarize yourself with interesting public planning. Also, spend the night under Aalto’s roof. The Muuratsalo Experimental house can be visited during the summer.

** Aalto buildings can also be found in Kouvola, Imatra, Kotka, Rovaniemi etc. How much time do you have? And what else do you want to experience?

We tailor-make all kinds of tours and travel in Finland, to individuals or groups.  

Example itinerary for a Aalto in Finland – one week package tour, please click here.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us!

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Follow in the footsteps of Alvar Aalto

Alvar Aalto, deeply rooted in Lakeland Finland, is considered a pioneer of Nordic architecture. However, the Finn was not only a successful architect whose unmistakable style continued to evolve over the years. He is also an icon in terms of design. Jyväskylä is considered the Aalto capital, because by far the most buildings designed by Aalto from the various periods of his work can be found in the city and region. In this article, we will introduce you to some of the most interesting Aalto spots in Lakeland Finland.

Alvar Aalto and his connection to Jyväskylä

In 1898, Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto saw the light of day as the firstborn of four siblings. Five years later, the family moved to the city of Jyväskylä, where Aalto attended school. After graduating from high school in 1916, Aalto went to study architecture at Helsinki University of Technology. As soon as he had graduated, he returned to Jyväskylä and opened his first architectural office in the basement of a hotel. The beautiful wooden building in the centre of Jyväskylä is nowadays known as Nikolainkulma and you can find a popular café there.

Even later, when he worked in other places, the “father of modernism” always returned to his roots and spent a lot of time in the Jyväskylä Region. His Experimental House in Muuratsalo became Aalto’s personal hideaway and a source of creativity. So Lakeland Finland, with its tranquility and nature, certainly provided inspiration for Aalto’s works. Today, the inhabitants of Jyväskylä and the surrounding area live surrounded by Aalto architecture, which is a part of everyday life and regional cultural identity.

Pioneer in architecture and design

Alvar Aalto’s complete works are impressive in their complexity. For example, he designed the Finnish pavilions at the 1936 World’s Fairs in Paris and 1938 in New York, the world-famous Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, or the Aalto-Theater in Essen, to give just one example of his international output.

On the other hand, he achieved world fame in the field of furniture and interior design, for example with his iconic Artek Stool 60 or the legendary Aalto Vase. His two wives, Aino and Elissa, played an important role in all his work, and their influence was probably greater than many people realize to this day.

Discover Alvar Aalto in Jyväskylä and its surroundings

Are you ready for a discovery tour to the most exciting Alvar Aalto spots in the city of Jyväskylä and its surroundings? Let’s get started on a journey through the Aalto capital in Lakeland Finland:

1. Aalto2 Museum Centre

The Aalto2 Museum Centre, opened in May 2023, houses both the Alvar Aalto Museum and the Museum of Central Finland under one roof. You can immerse yourself in the history of the region and learn a lot of interesting facts about the world-famous architect and his career.

2. Säynätsalo Town Hall

Less than 16 kilometers south of downtown Jyväskylä, in the middle of the beautiful Lakeland Finland, you can discover one of the most important works of Aalto architecture, the Säynätsalo Town Hall. Built between 1949 and 1952, the building is characterized by its winding design and organic forms. Aalto admirers from all over the world make pilgrimages here. If you want, you can even spend the night in Säynätsalo Town Hall.

3. Boat Nemo Propheta In Patria

In 1954-1955, the boat Nemo Propheta In Patria (“No one is a prophet in his own country”), designed by Alvar Aalto, was made, which Alvar and Elissa Aalto used to travel to their Experimental House in Muuratsalo. Today you can admire the boat in a specially designed boat shelter in Lutakko harbor in Jyväskylä. It stands right next to the Sataman Viilu design sauna and is within easy walking distance.

4. Jyväskylä workers’ club

The Jyväskylä workers’ association building is considered to be the first significant public building designed by Alvar Aalto. You can find it in the middle of downtown Jyväskylä, where it was built as early as 1924 and 1925. The classicist influences are clearly visible here, for example in the form of Tuscan columns – elements that disappeared completely in later works. If you want to take a tour of the inside of the building, this is only possible by prior appointment and you will have to pay a fee.

5. Seminar Hill

A prime example of Aalto architecture is Seminar Hill, where University of Jyväskylä is situated. The campus unmistakably bears the signature of its creator, whether you stroll around the outside of the grounds or take a look inside the buildings. It was here that Alvar Aalto implemented his ideas of a modern and people-friendly learning environment in 1952 and 1954. In addition to Aalto’s work, there are both older and newer buildings in the area, and together they form a stunning and charming ensemble.

6. Jyväskylä City Theatre

The architect set himself a monument in the center of Jyväskylä with another landmark. Part of the central district he designed, the Jyväskylä City Theatre has been inviting locals and visitors to enjoy performances in the Aalto-typical ambience since its completion in 1982.

7. Muuratsalo Experimental House

Between 1952 and 1954, the so-called Experimental House was built on the island of Muuratsalo, just five kilometers from the Säynätsalo Town Hall. It was used extensively as a summer home by Alvar and Elissa Aalto. Surrounded by the nature of Lakeland Finland it was not only a place to relax, but here Aalto actually experimented with a wide variety of materials and elements. You can only visit the Experimental House on a guided tour.

8. Muurame Church

Muurame Church, completed in 1929 and located 16 kilometers south of Jyväskylä, is the only one of Aalto’s various church plans from the 1920s that was actually realised. The church is exceptional because its construction shows Aalto’s evolution from classicism to functionalism.

More Alvar Aalto locations in Lakeland Finland

It is true that most of the Alvar Aalto locations in Lakeland Finland can be found in the Jyväskylä Region. However, we would like to mention a few other destinations that are absolutely worth a visit here as well.

The Iittala Glass Factory and the Iittala Design Museum

The Aalto vase, designed by Alvar Aalto, with its characteristic organic shape, is the best-known glass product from Finland in the world. It is still handmade by glassblowers at the Iittala Glass Factory near Hämeenlinna. Take a guided tour of the factory or visit the Iittala Glass Museum to learn more about the history of glass production.

Ristinkirkko – the Church of the Cross in Lahti

Completed in 1979, the Church of the Cross is one of Alvar Aalto’s great architectural works. Situated on a hill with it’s distinctive tower, it is one of the most impressive buildings in the city of Lahti in Lakeland Finland. The church, which seats 1150 inside, is part of an axis with the City Hall, designed by Eliel Saarinen, at the other end.

Find anything you save across the site in your account

Tour Finland’s Charming Summer Cottages Designed by Alvar Aalto

When the sun finally rises and the snow melts away after a long, cold winter, the Finns are more than ready to embrace the summer. A common tradition is to spend the season in a lakeside cottage—there are half a million summer houses in the country. An exhibition at the Alvar Aalto Museum in Jyväskylä, Finland, takes a look at the designs of such villas crafted by the institution’s namesake, an architect who made the city his home during the early 20th century.

When the demand for summer houses increased, competitions were held to produce designs that could be built across the country. Architects created hundreds of drawings—some of Aalto’s are presented here in the exhibition. The show also presents models of his commissions, such as a country club built in the town of Kallvik, as well as 16-millimeter footage of Aalto’s family vacations at his own getaways, the Villa Flora and the Experimental House.

“From the very beginning, Finns have sought inspiration for building from various sources, including the summer homes of artists and architects,” says curator Mari Murtoniemi in a statement. “Aalto’s summer cottage designs link the architecture of summer holidays to the development of society as a whole.”

*Through September 13 at the Alvar Aalto Museum, Alvar Aallon katu 7, Jyväskylä, Finland; alvaraalto.fi

By Hannah Martin

By Sam Cochran

By Morgan Goldberg

By Katherine McLaughlin

Alvar Aalto Foundation | Alvar Aalto -säätiö EN Alvar Aalto Foundation | Alvar Aalto -säätiö EN

• Muuratsalo Experimental house

The Aalto House

Studio Aalto

• Alvar Aalto Museum
• Visit Alvar Aalto

1. 4. M o n d a y

Guided tours.

for groups by appointment

Exhibition: AALTO – AINO, ALVAR, ELISSA

Exhibition: new standards – puutalo oy 1940-1955, 2. 4. t u e s d a y.

12:00, 13:00 and 14:00

3. 4. W e d n e s d a y

4. 4. t h u r s d a y, 5. 4. f r i d a y, 6. 4. s a t u r d a y.

12:00 and 13:00

7. 4. S u n d a y

14:30 and 15:30

8. 4. M o n d a y

9. 4. t u e s d a y, 10. 4. w e d n e s d a y, 11. 4. t h u r s d a y, 12. 4. f r i d a y, 13. 4. s a t u r d a y, 14. 4. s u n d a y, 15. 4. m o n d a y, 16. 4. t u e s d a y, 17. 4. w e d n e s d a y, 18. 4. t h u r s d a y, 19. 4. f r i d a y, 20. 4. s a t u r d a y, 21. 4. s u n d a y, 22. 4. m o n d a y, 23. 4. t u e s d a y, 24. 4. w e d n e s d a y, 25. 4. t h u r s d a y, 26. 4. f r i d a y, 27. 4. s a t u r d a y, 28. 4. s u n d a y, 29. 4. m o n d a y, 30. 4. t u e s d a y, 1. 5. w e d n e s d a y, 2. 5. t h u r s d a y, 3. 5. f r i d a y, 4. 5. s a t u r d a y, 5. 5. s u n d a y, 6. 5. m o n d a y, 7. 5. t u e s d a y, 8. 5. w e d n e s d a y, 9. 5. t h u r s d a y, 10. 5. f r i d a y, 11. 5. s a t u r d a y, 12. 5. s u n d a y, 13. 5. m o n d a y, 14. 5. t u e s d a y, 15. 5. w e d n e s d a y, 16. 5. t h u r s d a y, 17. 5. f r i d a y, 18. 5. s a t u r d a y, exhibition: the pool – the origin of pool skateboarding, 19. 5. s u n d a y, 20. 5. m o n d a y, 21. 5. t u e s d a y, 22. 5. w e d n e s d a y, 23. 5. t h u r s d a y, 24. 5. f r i d a y, 25. 5. s a t u r d a y, 26. 5. s u n d a y, 27. 5. m o n d a y, 28. 5. t u e s d a y, 29. 5. w e d n e s d a y, 30. 5. t h u r s d a y, 31. 5. f r i d a y, 1. 6. s a t u r d a y, 2. 6. s u n d a y, 3. 6. m o n d a y, 4. 6. t u e s d a y, 5. 6. w e d n e s d a y, 6. 6. t h u r s d a y, 7. 6. f r i d a y, 8. 6. s a t u r d a y, 9. 6. s u n d a y, 10. 6. m o n d a y, 11. 6. t u e s d a y, 12. 6. w e d n e s d a y, 13. 6. t h u r s d a y, 14. 6. f r i d a y, 15. 6. s a t u r d a y, 16. 6. s u n d a y, 17. 6. m o n d a y, 18. 6. t u e s d a y, 19. 6. w e d n e s d a y, 20. 6. t h u r s d a y, 21. 6. f r i d a y, 22. 6. s a t u r d a y, 23. 6. s u n d a y, 24. 6. m o n d a y, 25. 6. t u e s d a y, 26. 6. w e d n e s d a y, 27. 6. t h u r s d a y, 28. 6. f r i d a y, 29. 6. s a t u r d a y, 30. 6. s u n d a y, 1. 7. m o n d a y, 2. 7. t u e s d a y, 3. 7. w e d n e s d a y, 4. 7. t h u r s d a y, 5. 7. f r i d a y, 6. 7. s a t u r d a y, 7. 7. s u n d a y, 8. 7. m o n d a y, 9. 7. t u e s d a y, 10. 7. w e d n e s d a y, 11. 7. t h u r s d a y, 12. 7. f r i d a y, 13. 7. s a t u r d a y, 14. 7. s u n d a y, 15. 7. m o n d a y, 16. 7. t u e s d a y, 17. 7. w e d n e s d a y, 18. 7. t h u r s d a y, 19. 7. f r i d a y, 20. 7. s a t u r d a y, 21. 7. s u n d a y.

Admission fees

Guided tours until from Tuesday to Sunday. Book your tickets from shop.alvaraalto.fi

We want to assure that our Museum visitors can tour our sites safely.

We recommend visitors to use face masks during the visit.

We have taken a number of different measures to ensure customer safety. Visitors will receive further guidance on the spot to make their Museum visit a pleasant and safe one.

The number of visitors is limited to 15 per tour.

Studio Aalto can only be visited by joining a guided tour.

The tour timetable depends on the time of the year – please check the schedule carefully. Remember to check exceptions in opening hours!

We strongly recommend making a reservation in advance. See shop.alvaraalto.fi

Pre-sale of tickets in our online shop ends 1 hour before the tour. Possible unsold tickets are available on-site before each tour. Please note that the most popular tours might get fully booked in advance.

Groups are required to make a reservation outside the regular tour hours: hello@alvaraalto.fi

The duration of the visit is 1 hour. The guided tour itself will last about 30-40 minutes, after which it’s possible to enjoy the building and its spaces at one’s own pace for a while.

Guided tours are usually in English.

Fees from 1.2.2020:

Regular price 20 € /per person

Students, senior citizens and unemployed 10 € /per person

NB! In case you are entitled to a discounted ticket, please show the valid documentation (e.g. a student card) on site

Children under 18 years with parent(s)

ICOM, ICOMOS, PRESS and DOCOMOMO card holders

Group tours can be arranged outside the regular opening hours only.

Reservation required: hello@alvaraalto.fi

Group fees from 1.3.2022:

Group tour fee: 1-5 persons: 100 € over 5 persons: 20 € / per person

Student and senior citizen groups: 1-10 persons: 100 € over 10 persons: 10 € / per person

Tours are available in the following languages: English, Japanese, German, Finnish, Swedish

If you are interested in visiting The Aalto House as well, please check the timetable in advance . The Aalto House and the Studio Aalto are located relatively close to each other, the distance is about 500 metres.

There is a museum shop in the Studio Aalto. We accept both cash and credit card payments.

Free Wi-Fi is available in the studio.

There is no café in the building, but there are a few cafés and restaurants within about 500 meters.

Photography for private, non-commercial purposes is allowed (without a flash or tripod). We welcome you to share your photos with us on Instagram , Facebook or Twitter .

Due to safety reasons, large bags can’t be taken into the museum spaces.

Accessibility: there are stairs at the Studio House. There is no wheelchair access.

There is no waiting room inside the building. Please wait for the guide at the door.

Camera supervision (CCTV) is in operation throughout the house.

Museum Card is not valid in the Studio Aalto.

Studio Aalto Tiilimäki 20 FI-00330 Helsinki

hello@alvaraalto.fi

tel. +358 9 481 350

Tram 4 (Munkkiniemi).

No tram services to Munkkiniemi 1–9 August 2022:   See HSL route planner for options

The nearest tram stop is Tiilimäki, 300 metres from the Studio Aalto (route not signed)

Studio Aalto doesn’t have parking places of its own.

Downloadable Seaside Museums map (PDF)

Exceptions in opening times

Read about the architecture of studio aalto, visit also the aalto house nearby.

Learn about Alvar Aalto’s studio on a guided tour!

A one-hour visit explores the history and architecture of Aalto’s office with an expert guide and allows personal time to soak up the special atmosphere, take photographs, make sketches and visit the museum shop. Studio Aalto is located in Munkkiniemi area in Helsinki.

A visit to Studio Aalto is a fascinating immersion into the world of Aalto’s architecture, design and personal history, but at the same time it is an architectural experience of space and the building itself. Bathed in natural light and decorated with Aalto furniture, this unique studio was the setting where Aalto and his architects designed a number of famous buildings.

Exhibition: Architect Elissa Aalto

Architecture

Helsinki, Finland

Riihitie 20

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Studio Aalto

Address: Tiilimäki 20, 00330 Helsinki, Finland Open Google map

Entrance fee: 10 € - 20 € / person

Tours: Book your ticket in advance online. Visit lasts 1 hour, from which 30 minutes is guided.

Themes: Modernism, Office buildings, Whitewash

Website: Alvar Aalto Foundation

Alvar Aalto designed the building at Tiilimäki 20 in Munkkiniemi as his own office in 1955. Because of a number of large commissions, the office needed more space to work in. The building is only a short walk from Aalto’s own house, where the office had previously been located. Studio Aalto is one of the best of Alvar Aalto’s 1950s buildings.

“You can’t create architecture in an office environment,” is how Aalto described working in an architect’s office. Aalto designed a free-form studio section for the building, and a drawing room using natural light. The building curves around a stepped, amphitheatre-style courtyard sheltered from the wind. On the upper floor there is a drawing office on a narrow plan, beautifully encircled by natural light from a band of high-level windows. In 1962-1963 the building was extended by building a dining room for the staff, the ‘Taverna’, in the courtyard behind the high brick wall, with an office above it.

Many of Aalto’s best-known works were designed here at the Studio. Alvar Aalto ran the office until his death in 1976. After that, the office continued under the leadership of Elissa Aalto until 1994. The building came into the custodianship of the Alvar Aalto Foundation in 1984 and today it houses the Alvar Aalto Foundation staff. You can visit the Studio Aalto in guided tours for groups. There are public guided tours of the Studio throughout the year.

The white-rendered, wall-like, closed-in mass of the building conceals a garden shaped like an amphitheatre in its inner courtyard. The office staff could sit on the slate steps of the amphitheatre, listen to lectures or watch slide shows projected on the white wall.

The principal space in the building is the curving studio which has a view opening onto the courtyard. Horizontal battens fixed to the high walls of the studio allowed drawings to be displayed there. The rear wall is covered with climbing plants reaching up to the high-level windows and prototypes of light fittings designed by Alvar Aalto are hung in front of the wall.

The slanting bay window of the conference room with its roof light creates the perfect conditions for examining models and drawings.

Studio Aalto in Munkkiniemi, Helsinki. Photo: Maija Holma, Alvar Aalto Foundation

The windows in the Studio Aalto’s curved wall open onto the courtyard. Photo: Maija Holma, Alvar Aalto Foundation

Aalto designed a free-form studio section for the building, and a drawing room using natural light. The building curves around a stepped, amphitheatre-style courtyard sheltered from the wind. Many of Aalto’s best-known works were designed here at the Studio.

Information for visitors

Good to know.

Studio Aalto is located in Munkkiniemi area in Helsinki on Tiilimäki 20. From the city centre of Helsinki you can take a tram number 4 to Munkkiniemi area. The closest stop to the house is called Tiilimäki. Please check timetables online from the journey planner .

You can visit Aalto’s studio with a guided tour. It is highly recommended to book visit in advance online from Alvar Aalto Foundation’s webshop!  There are tours available all year round almost daily. Tours lasts an hour and includes both the guided tour itself and free time to enjoy the special atmosphere in the house and explore the museum shop too. Please check times and exception in advance from Alvar Aalto Foundation webpage .

Please note, that you can also visit The Aalto House which is also located in Munkkiniemi on Riihitie 20. Please check times and book your tickets online in advance!

Read more about Studio Aalto

Please note that you can purchase publications about Studio Aalto as well as download architectural drawings from Alvar Aalto web shop!

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After much thought and further research we have agreed to vary our previous journey ideas thinking Vaasa was too far to venture for a day.

Still deciding how long and where to stop. In my previous post JohntheFinn suggested a couple of days in both Turku & Tampere. If you’re reading this John, any further advice on our new and we hope, improved circuit?

Thanks everyone.

6 replies to this topic

How many days are you allowing for this trip?

As this will be our last excursion of a two month trip we may want to keep it short. And of course we have the long days in our favour. We always fly into Helsinki and enjoy staying there because of its familiarity. So even if we don't see everything this time we can always try on our next trip and venture even further - if only we don't leave our planning to the last minute!

Thanks again..

You can run through the Aalto attractions in Jyväskylä in a day and I at least don't see any reason to stay there any longer. I'm not sure Kustavi is worth going out of your way for; consider Naantali instead. Also, on the way from Turku back to Helsinki , it'd be a shame to miss the impressive Castle Raseborg beside Snappertuna village and/or the nearby Fiskars village - very quaint.

Thank you again John.

We will pick up a car mid-afternoon from the airport. Hopefully car hires are open on Midsummer Day and/or Sunday. I haven't had time to check.

I'd like to travel anti-clockwise and suspect we'll probably spend two nights in Jyväskylä. Visit Tampere for a day on the way to Turku . Spend three nights in Turku, visiting Naantali one day, and visit the Castle and Fiskars on the way back to the airport for our flight at midnight.

Does this sound sensible, without being rushed?

Thank you very much for all your advice..

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