Location: Alajärvi, Finland
Duration: 1 day
Sites: Alvar Aalto in Alajärvi
Available: All year
Accommodation: Not included
Transportation: Not included
Themes: Aalto homes, Civic centers, Classicism, Modernism, Museums, Office buildings
From 85 € per person
Alvar Aalto spent many summers in Alajärvi in his childhood and later had a summer house of his own. For Aalto, Alajärvi represented leisure time with family and relatives in contrast to the hectic work at the office. Aalto called this small rural town his spiritual home.
Tour highlights:
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 Aalto Centre there are 11 locations, including the recently renovated Villa Väinölä, a home Aalto designed for his brother.
The countryside was his retreat during the busy creative years with the assignments and architectural competitions. Alajärvi is located near to Aalto’s childhood home Kuortane, so the region played an important role in his life.
Alajärvi Town Hall by Alvar Aalto. Photo: Maija Holma, Alvar Aalto Foundation
Alvar Aalto designed Villa Väinölä to his brother in Alajärvi. Photo: Maija Holma, Alvar Aalto Foundation
Alajärvi was a town dear to Aalto and he put his heart and soul into the local projects.
The day will begin with a guided tour at the Aalto Center in Alajärvi. The Aalto Centre consists of two municipal offices, the congregation house, Youth Association building, the municipal hospital, a health station and the city library, which was finalised by the architect studio of Aalto. The tour will also include a visit to Villa Väinölä, a house that Aalto designed for his brother. Aalto designed three memorials to Alajärvi as well and his first wife, Aino Aalto, designed a summerhouse Villa Flora to Alajärvi, which is still in private ownership.
The guided tour takes you to the wooden church (1836) designed by the famous architect C.L. Engel. Aalto used to have a spesific seat in the church loft in his youth. In the beautiful graveyard you can see e.g. war memorials designed by Alvar Aalto and the Aalto family grave. You will also get to explore an exhibition in the lobby of the Alajärvi town hall. “For the Form” –exhibition has design classics of the 1930s by Alvar and Aino Aalto on display.
After the guided tour, a prebooked charter bus will transport your group onward to the winery Punainen Tupa, where a traditional Finnish buffet lunch is served. The winery is situated in the rustic landscape among lush birches, only c. 5 kilometres from the Alajärvi centre. At the winery, you will also have a chance to buy and taste the wine while you enjoy the Finnish delicacies served during lunch. Their wine products, like Alvariini, are made of different kinds of berries or birch sap. Local products truly are one of the best souvenirs you could take home from Finland!
The day continues with a visit to Nelimarkka Museum. 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. Nelimarkka-museum functions also as the Art Museum of Southern Ostrobothnia. It focuses on displaying regional ostrobothnian art but art education also plays an important role. Coffee and cake is served in the light atmosphere of Café de Nelimarkka.
Alajärvi
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…
The price has been estimated for group of 10 persons. VAT included.
The availability of the services and the prices are revised and confirmed according to the time of travel when responding to a customer enquiry. The programme is tentative and can be adjusted according to customer’s needs. We follow the general terms and conditions for package tours.
All rights reserved.
The price has been estimated for group of 10 persons. VAT included.
The availability of the services and the prices are revised and confirmed according to the time of travel when responding to a customer enquiry. The programme is tentative and can be adjusted according to customer’s needs. We follow the general terms and conditions for package tours.
All rights reserved.
Tiedekatu 2
60320, Seinäjoki
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