“Nothing that is old can be reborn. But nor will it disappear entirely. And that which once was, always returns in some new form.” Alvar Aalto, 1921

The new Aalto2 Museum Centre in Ruusupuisto Park, Jyväskylä, Finland, opened to the public on Saturday, 27 May. At the ceremony Aalto2 was inaugurated by Jyväskylä Mayor Timo Koivisto. Aalto2 marks a major cultural investment by Jyväskylä, a city with a total of 29 buildings designed by Alvar Aalto.

Aalto2 is a unique place where Alvar Aalto’s architecture and design meet the cultural heritage of Central Finland. It combines two buildings designed by Alvar Aalto – the Alvar Aalto Museum (1971–73) and the Museum of Central Finland (1956–61) – with a new connecting extension by A-Konsultit Architects built in 2022–23. The renovated Alvar Aalto Museum opened its doors after a two-year break for structural repairs, upgrading of building services, and alterations to its facilities to match the new Aalto2 concept.

Aalto2’s exhibitions and events conduct a dialogue between current phenomena, visions of the future, and layers of history. The new museum shop and cosy café offer a pleasant breathing space, seasonal flavours, and beautiful gift ideas.

Exhibitions
Aalto2’s opening exhibition Human Traces – World Heritage sheds light on the legacy of the past so as to reflect on the present and the future – What traces will our time leave for posterity? Human Traces, a co-production by the Alvar Aalto Museum and Museum of Central Finland, comprises a series of five exhibitions taking up the entire Aalto2 Museum Centre, revealing the diversity of built heritage and cultural heritage. The exhibition’s curation and architecture are by the Finnish-Spanish architect duo Anna and Eugeni Bach.

Aalto2 has also opened two permanent exhibitions: the new AALTO – Work and Life at the Alvar Aalto Museum and Exploring Central Finland at the Museum of Central Finland.

Press release about the exhibitions

Varied events
The Museum Centre’s summer and autumn calendar is filled with exhibition-related events and guided tours.
The events offer activities for people of all ages, while the theme days combine a wide range of activities for both enthusiasts and families. Theme days and exhibitions are accompanied by popular workshops. The International 5th Alvar Aalto Researchers’ Network Seminar: Whose modernism? brings together architecture-research professionals at Aalto2 on 14–15.6.2023.

Services
The Aalto2 Museum Shop in the middle of the new extension boasts an attractive selection of products designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto from Artek’s and Iittala’s collections, as well as publications and sustainable design objects. The Museum Centre’s summer and autumn event calendar is filled with exhibition-related programmes and guided tours.

Aalto2’s cosy café opens on 6 June on the Alvar Aalto Museum’s original café site, offering locally made delicacies. The café extends into the courtyard – a beautiful setting surrounded by Aalto’s architecture.

Aalto2 Museum Centre Ltd is a private company owned by the City of Jyväskylä and the Alvar Aalto Foundation. Aalto2’s main task is to sell, market and communicate the museum centre as a whole. The museum shop and café are also part of Aalto2’s business. The Aalto2 exhibitions and activities are produced by the Alvar Aalto Museum and the Museum of Central Finland, together with their international, national and local partners.

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Aalto2 opening hours
Tue-Sun 10–18 summer season (May–August)
Tue-Sun 11–18 winter season (September–April)

The Aalto2 Museum Centre is a new meeting place for architecture, design and cultural heritage in Jyväskylä. The official opening in May 2023 is part of Alvar Aalto’s 125th anniversary celebrations.

Media inquiries: 
Laura Sarvilinna
press@aalto2.museum
+358 (0)40 519 4195

Mirkka Vidgrén
mirkka.vidgren@alvaraalto.fi
+358 40 168 5142

Aalto2 press photos

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