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REINDEER ANTLER TOWN PLAN
The Reindeer Antler Town Plan for Ro-vanie-
mi was completed by Alvar Aalto in 1945. It
was ratified in 1946. The point of departure
for the Rovaniemi town plan was its status
as the capital of Lapland and as a traffic cen-
tre. The principle theme of the town plan was
formed from a central park that broke off into
five different directions, where the most impor-
tant traffic routes were situated. Another cen-
tral theme was the landscapes of rivers and
hills, the spaciousness of which was empha-
sised by Alvar Aalto in specifying that build-
ings should be no higher than four storeys.
The Reindeer Antler Town Plan received
its name from the shape it makes on the map:
the traffic routes that bordered the green zones selves into the ground.
resembled reindeer antlers, while at the same
The Cultural and Administrative Centre in
Rovaniemi is Alvar Aalto’s most renowned
work in Lapland. The first of the buildings
to be completed was the Library, followed
by the Lappia House, and finally the Town
Hall, which was constructed following the
demise of Alvar Aalto. These three buildings
form a spacious complex surrounding an
open space, where each building is present-
time demarcating the town centre. At the con-
fluence of the Ounasjoki and Kemijoki rivers,
the roads formed the reindeer’s muzzle and
the River Kemijoki flowed down the chin of
the reindeer. The central sports field forms
the eye of the reindeer.
The town plan was made to be flexible
in order for it to allow quick repair of the
damage caused by the war, as well as ensur-
ing it would cater for future needs. It was Al-
var Aalto’s notion that once the town plan
for the town centre has been resolved, the
town will be free to expand. The town has
no precise borders, as it blends in with na-
ture in the same way that plants root them-
ed as an individual entirety while emphasis-
ing the purpose of each building. The library
building is highlighted with natural light fil-
tering through the top windows of the lend-
ing department, the performance section of
the Lappia House has undulating roof forms,
and the Town Hall has a tall, crystalline town
council tower.