Säynätsalo Town Hall - Alvar Aalto Foundation

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.

Designed in

1949-52

Location

Finland, Jyväskylä

Virtual tour

Open virtual tour

— 1

The main facade: The library wing and the council tower. Photo: Martti Kapanen, Alvar Aalto Museum

— 2

South elevation. Drawing: Alvar Aalto Museum

— 3

Floor plan. Drawing: Alvar Aalto Museum

— 4

The grass staircase. The apartment wing is on the left. Photo: Maija Holma, Alvar Aalto Museum

— 5

Section. Drawing: Alvar Aalto Museum

— 6

Wäinö Aaltonen´s sculpture 'The dancer' by the water feature. Photo: Maija Holma, Alvar Aalto Museum

— 7

The main entrance under a pergola in the inner courtyard. Photo: Maija Holma, Alvar Aalto Museum

— 8

The main lobby and office corridor curve around the inner courtyard. Photo: Maija Holma, Alvar Aalto Museum

— 9

The sun-lit lending library. Photo: Maija Holma, Alvar Aalto Museum

— 10

Council chamber gets indirect natural light via the corridor windows. Photo: Maija Holma, Alvar Aalto Museum

Säynätsalo Town Hall - interior. Photo Maija Holma/Alvar Aalto Museum, 1997.

— 11

Aalto nicknamed the council chamber roof beams 'butterflies'. Photo: Maija Holma, Alvar Aalto Museum

— 12

Sketches of the council chamber. Drawing: Alvar Aalto Museum

— 13

Office door handles are leather covered. Photo: Maija Holma, Alvar Aalto Museum

— 14

Some of the street-level commercial spaces still serve their original function. Photo: Maija Holma, Alvar Aalto Museum

Guided tours

Tavolo Bianco organizes guided tours for public in the building.

More information:
info@tavolobianco.com, www.tavolobianco.com

Accommodation

There has been two guestrooms for booking from the very beginning of the building’s history. The rooms are named after architect Alvar Aalto and his wife – Alvari (7 m²) and Elissa (10 m²). Guestrooms are basic rooms with shared bathroom and toilet. The view directly to the patio is wonderful. The rooms are single rooms (extra bed available) and equipped with bed linens and towels, fridge, microwave, electric kettle and kitchen ware.

Also there are two apartments ‘Henrik’ and ‘Hugo’ available.

More information about the accommodation services.

Location

Parviaisentie 9, Säynätsalo (15 km from Jyväskylä)

Bus connections

Bus numbers 16, 16M ja 21 run from Jyväskylä center to Säynätsalo.

More information

Tavolo Bianco Oy
+358 46 582 1060, info@tavolobianco.com
www.tavolobianco.com

See also publication of the Säynätsalo Town Hall available at shop.alvaraalto.fi.