The balcony, inner-courtyard façade and garden fence at Studio Aalto in Munkkiniemi, Helsinki, are to be renovated during summer 2024. The renovation work presents an interesting opportunity to review restoration methods used on modern architecture. Despite the renovations, Studio Aalto is still open to the public as usual.

Repair work on Studio Aalto’s façade will begin with the restoration of the balcony and the wooden parts of the courtyard-passageway wall. The exterior-cladding boards on the wall will be dismantled so as to leave it as intact as possible, and the condition of the battening and insulation materials inspected. The old cladding material will be reinstalled, but with any rotted bits replaced with new boards similar to the original. Restoration work will continue into early July.

In August-September, it will be the turn of the high wooden-slatted fencing around the Studio garden to be renovated. The fences around the garden-courtyard will be dismantled one by one, and any rotted parts replaced with fine-grained wood. The aim is also to do the fence repairs so as to preserve as much old wood as possible. The Alvar Aalto Foundation has received a restoration grant for the repairs from the Finnish Heritage Agency.

Renovation of the Studio’s façades and fences will continue in spring 2025, when the renewed wooden surfaces will be painted with linseed-oil paint. The painting work is part of the three-year project on cultural heritage and climate change in which the Foundation is participating. The aim of the project is to develop methods for monitoring the effects of climate change on cultural-heritage sites. The information generated will be used in planning the protection of built cultural heritage and in practical repair methods, as well as for drawing up national guidelines. The project is co-financed by the Council of Europe. Read more about it here.

The restoration work will not restrict visits to the Studio, but will partly affect movement around the courtyard, depending on the work schedule and progress.

Studio Aalto was completed in 1955 to be the architect’s own office. The building was extended in 1962–63. Aalto led the office until his death in 1976, after which his wife, architect Elissa Aalto, ran it until 1994. Today, the building, which is owned by the Alvar Aalto Foundation, is open to the public on guided tours throughout the year. Find out about guided tours and buy tickets here.

The Alvar Aalto Foundation’s Architectural Heritage Department provides expert assistance in renovation projects on Aalto buildings and in issues related to their maintenance. It seeks out the best design solutions, repair methods and materials, while respecting Aalto’s original architecture and goals. The Foundation has an extensive archive of original drawings by Aalto’s architect’s office, as well as photograph and construction-document archives, which are used in planning repairs. Read more about the Alvar Aalto Foundation’s architectural-heritage work here.

Further information:
Alvar Aalto Foundation
Conservator Susanna Pusa
+358 (0)44 558 7348
susanna.pusa@alvaraalto.fi

Photo: Studio Aalto. Maija Holma @ Alvar Aalto Foundation.