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Alvar Aalto’s visions for Rovaniemi – guided city walk

Location: Rovaniemi, Finland

Duration: 2 h

Sites: Aalto and the Post-war Rebuilding of Rovaniemi

Persons: 1-15

Available: All year, except from 8th of April through 17th of May

Accommodation: Not included

Transportation: Not included

Themes: Civic centers, Cultural buildings, Libraries, Town plans

From 29€ per person

The administrative and cultural center is the essence of Elissa and Alvar Aalto’s legacy in Lapland. This guided tour will explain Aalto’s ideas about mankind, nature and technology, and you can see how these ideas are reflected in his design.

Tour highlights:

  • Aalto exhibition in Sampokeskus
  • Municipal library of Rovaniemi

Architect Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) is internationally renown. In the two hour guided city walk you will discover Aalto’s visions for Rovaniemi.

We will start the city walk with an exhibition that showcase Alvar Aalto’s plans for the reconstruction of post war Rovaniemi. Did you know the urban plan for Rovaniemi, as envisioned by the architect, resembles the head of a reindeer? Subsequently we follow Aalto’s footsteps along the Aho commercial buildings and Maison Aho to the administrative and Cultural Center, which consists of a square, modern sculptures and three buildings: the City Hall, the Municipal Library and the Lappia Hall, home to the City Theater. The administrative and cultural center is the essence of Elissa and Alvar Aalto’s legacy in Lapland. We will focus on the square and on the municipal library, studying the waving shape of the building, and the style and functionality of Artek furniture. You can try out the furniture yourself. In the spacious lending room of the library we will esteem the significance of light design which combines daylighting and Aalto’s signature light fittings. What kind of feeling does the building provoke to you? In the library works by local artists are exhibited.

How did Aalto interpret architectural history and international trends? Do Finnish landscapes resonate in Aalto’s design? Is an Aalto building a gesamtkunstwerk? What made Aalto’s architecture so unique, your guide explains Aalto’s ideas about mankind, nature and technology, and you can see how these ideas are reflected in his design. During the guided tour you will get a good impression about Aalto’s architecture and hear interesting insights about architecture and about the history of Rovaniemi.

Rovaniemi Library. Photo: City of Rovaniemi

Aalto’s main work in Rovaniemi is the administrative and cultural centre; pictured Rovaniemi City Hall. Picture: City of Rovaniemi

Frank Idea guided tours are planned to be interesting and fun for everybody. And although the winter in Lapland can be very cold indeed, and snow and ice can be sometimes difficult to move through, we believe that everybody should be able to participate in our activities to enjoy the sights of Lapland. We are comfortable serving people with disabilities. Our mini bus is equipped with an elevator and we take no extra charge for the personal assistant participating in our services.
A Frank Idea in Rovaniemi Lapland Finland web
Alvar Aalto guided tours in Rovaniemi can be purchased on the web shop afrankidea.com. Photo: Visit Rovaniemi
Wintery Lappia Hall in Rovaniemi photo City of Rovaniemi
Wintery Lappia Hall. Photo: City of Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi Aalto Center
Light fixtures designed by Aalto at the Rovaniemi library. Photo: City of Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi Library has beautiful roof windows, photo City of Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi Library has beautiful roof windows. Photo: City of Rovaniemi

Programme by day

Day 1: Guided walking tour, tour in english
  • Guide will meet you at the Lordi Square, in the city centre of Rovaniemi from where the tour will start and continue towards The Administrative and Cultural Centre in Rovaniemi.

Sites included in this trip

Information on this trip

Good to know

  • The starting point for the guided tour city walk at the statue at Lordi Square in the city center of Rovaniemi, opposite the information center of Visit Rovaniemi.
  • Duration of the tour is approximately 2 hours
  • Tour covers approximately 1,8 kilometers
  • More information on Aalto’s architecture in Rovaniemi here 

Included

  • Guided tour

Optional services

  • This guided tour can be booked as a tailored private experience as well, in which a visit to the main church of Rovaniemi, and / or a visit to Korkalonrinne residential area can be optionally booked as extensions to the guided tour.
  • Pre-order for transportation to and from the Aalto centre. Priced separately. 

Excluded

  • Transport

Example price 29€ per person

  • Tickets can be purchased on the website www.afrankidea.com

Inquiries and bookings

Example price 29€ per person

  • Tickets can be purchased on the website www.afrankidea.com
A Frank Idea provides high quality and tailored guided tours around Rovaniemi with a focus on culture (history, art, architecture). Guided tours to such as Särestöniemi-museum, Arktikum and The Administrative and Cultural Center of Rovaniemi are available.
A Frank Idea

PL 2208

96201, Rovaniemi

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