Address: Jyväskylä, Finland Open Google map
Entrance fee: Free/upon request
Tours: You can easily go and see the buildings by Aalto on your own, but for a more in-depth experience you can also book a guided tour. You can make bookings and get more information from Jyväskylä Tourist Information, email travel@jkl.fi, tel. +358 14 266 0113.
Themes: Aalto homes, Churches, Civic centers, Classicism, Finnish sauna and pools, Modernism, Red brick, Residential areas, Schools
Website: Alvar Aalto in Jyväskylä
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 brick
architecture to monumentalism. Jyväskylä offers you a vast selection of guided tours and interesting visits either on foot, by bike or by boat!
Jyväskylä is also perfectly suited for conferences. The city is lively due to the University and it offers a selection of restaurants and venues for all kind of events. The Finnish Lakeland, being the Sauna Region of the World, guarantees various possibilities for groups of all sizes.
One point of interest is the swimming hall designed by Alvar Aalto. Back then it was one of the very first swimming halls in Finland. It was later enlarged and now the AaltoAlvari Aquatic Centre houses sport and spa services, with various pools like rapid and wave pools, a hot tub, a water slide and diving boards.
Located at a hub of excellent connections, Jyväskylä is highly accessible from practically anywhere.
Jyväskylän yliopiston päärakennus on kampuksen tunnetuin rakennuskokonaisuus. Kuva: Maija Holma, Alvar Aalto -säätiö
Alvar Aalto had made his first trip to Italy in 1924, and his travel impressions are much in evidence in the church of Muurame. Photo: Tero Takalo-Eskola, Visit Jyväskylä
Alvar Aalto in Jyväskylä / 1924-25
Jyväskylä Workers’ club building was the first notable public building that Alvar Aalto got to design after his graduation with Aino Aalto. Aalto was given the design commission for the new building in the city centre by the Jyväskylä Workers’ Association in 1924. The plans for the building were made…
Alvar Aalto in Jyväskylä / 1954-56, 1964
AaltoAlvari is the only swimming hall designed by Alvar Aalto. AaltoAlvari also has a gym, sports hall and a cafeteria. AaltoAlvari is also part of the main campus of the Jyväskylä University campus that was designed by Aalto as well. The original design of the swimming hall is…
Alvar Aalto in Jyväskylä / 1926-29
Alvar Aalto designed several church plans in 1920’s and Muurame church is the only one that was realised. Muurame church is considered to be a interphase in Aalto’s career. After Muurame church, Aalto gradually moved on from classism to functionalism. The village of Muurame lies a few miles south of Jyväskylä,…
Alvar Aalto in Jyväskylä / 1949-52
The invitational competition for Säynätsalo Town Hall was held in 1949. Aalto won the competition with an entry marked ‘Curia’, and was immediately commissioned to prepare working drawings. Completed in 1952, the building is one of Aalto’s most admired designs. The dominant element of the building is the council chamber,…
Alvar Aalto in Jyväskylä / 1952-54
Muuratsalo Experimental House, the summer home of Alvar and Elissa Aalto, is situated on the western shore of the island of Muuratsalo, on lake Päijänne. Within the grounds of the Experimental House are the house itself, a woodshed and a smoke sauna.
Alvar Aalto in Jyväskylä / 1971-73
Alvar Aalto Museum is part of the new Aalto2 Museum Centre; a unique meeting place of architecture, design and cultural heritage in Jyväskylä. Alvar Aalto was commissioned to prepare drawings for Jyväskylä art museum, which were finished in autumn 1971. The building was completed in 1973. The Alvar Aalto…
Arriving to Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä is located approximately 270 kilometres away from Helsinki. Jyväskylä is located in the middle of Finland, it is within a reasonable distance from anywhere in the country.
By train or coach
The rail journey to Jyväskylä takes 1.5 hours from Tampere and less than 3.5 hours from Helsinki. You can also take either a Matkahuolto or Onnibus buses to Jyväskylä. When travelling by train or coach, you will arrive in Jyväskylä at the Travel Centre right in the heart of the city.
By car
To reach Jyväskylä by road, a car or coach is equally convenient. Located on the highway E4, Jyväskylä is easily accessible by car while highway no. 9 links it to Kuopio and Tampere. To find the fastest or shortest route to Jyväskylä by car, make use of the route planning services available on the Internet, such as Google Maps.
By lake
Jyväskylä offers beautiful lake sceneries on Päijänne and Jyväsjärvi. Jyväsjärvi is accessible from Lake Päijänne via Äijälänsalmi, a busy but safe and wide channel. Jyväskylä’s refurbished busy marina is located in Lutakko on Lake Jyväsjärvi close to the heart of the city and Travel Centre.
By air
Jyväskylä is easily accessible by air. The airport is located in Tikkakoski, about 23 kilometres from the centre of Jyväskylä. Information on long-distance buses stopping at the airport as well as other public transport connections is available here.
Read more about sights in Jyväskylä