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ALVAR AALTO IN ROVANIEMI
When Alvar Aalto began his career in the 1920s, the world
was undergoing an enormous upheaval. The prevailing at-
mosphere of this period inspired a new direction for archi-
tecture – linear forms and functionalism highlighting intend-
ed use. Its basic and simplified form of design facilitated the only chimneys remaining standing. Over ninety percent of
mass production of furniture and structures.
Alvar Aalto actively participated in European architec-
ture association meetings from the end of the 1920s onwards,
achieved a career of international renown and obtained in-
fluences from around the world. He was one of the architects
to introduce functionalism to Finland. However, already in
the mid-1930s, Alvar Aalto felt the linear forms and rational
notions of functionalism were tiresome. He decided to shift
his focus more on nature, individuality, humanity and or-
ganic forms. Alvar Aalto retained some functionalist princi-
ples in the application of new construction techniques and
the notion of the social responsibility of architecture. Over
time, his expression became more personal and recognisable,
even though it diverged from the distinctly defined specifica-
tions. Perhaps the reason for Alvar Aalto’s worldwide popular-
ity is the richness and organic characteristics of his designs. vaniemi was the so-called Reindeer Antler Town Plan, com-
Following the Second World War, Finland was faced with
the enormous task of reconstruction, with foremost being
Lapland that was almost completely destroyed. The evacu-
ees returning to Rovaniemi were faced with a grim scene of
buildings had been destroyed. Due to the arctic climate, re-
construction had to be initiated immediately. The general and
city planning procedures were commenced almost immedi-
ately after the destruction occurring in 1944.
The internationally renowned architect, Alvar Aalto felt
it his duty to participate in the reconstruction under the
conditions of the prevailing national emergency. He was re-
sponsible for managing the Reconstruction Office tasks of the
Finnish Association of Architects in Lapland. In the midst of
this challenging situation, he developed a flexible standard
concept based on the objectives of functionalism that suit-
ed the emergency situation, yet also took into consideration
humane factors and the environment.
The first of Alvar Aalto’s plans to be implemented in Ro-
pleted in 1945. In the 1950s and 1960s, Alvar Aalto designed
new sites for Rovaniemi; a close-knit community in the Korka-
lorinne district comprising family homes and small apart-
ments, commercial properties, houses and a villa for the Aho
family, in addition to the cultural and administrative cen-
tre including the library, theatre and town hall. Each work
is unique in its own right. Nevertheless, these solutions al-
so resembled the other works of Alvar Aalto that can be ad-
mired around the world.
Throughout his career, Alvar Aalto sought innovative so-
lutions, and as a designer he was able to regenerate his de-
signs from one decade to the next. His ability to question
and strive to find new concepts was the driving force be-
hind his creativity. Alvar Aalto saw buildings as being com-
prehensive works of art, and this is the reason why his work
was not merely restricted to designing buildings; he also de-
signed furniture, lamps, glassware and textiles. Alvar Aal-
to also published a large number of articles about architec-
ture, art and society.