Alvar Aalto

The Helsinki Energy Office Building was designed by Alvar Aalto as Helsingin Energia (former The Office Building of the Helsinki City Electricity Company) head quarters and constructed in Kamppi in 1973. The building's location is part of Aalto's city-centre plan from 1961. Apart from being the Helsingin Energia (Helen) head office, the building houses also main electricity and heat-generation control rooms, an electricity substation and a customer-service department.

The first public building in Helsinki designed by Alvar Aalto. Aalto won the wartime bid in 1941 organised by the City of Helsinki to design the entrance to the bomb shelter below the Erottaja hill. Aalto's original plan was left unrealised due to the war, and a temporary construction was erected on the location.

The pavilion found there now was built in 1951. Alvar Aalto wanted to reshape his design after winning the bid, as the execution was postponed with several years. The new traffic arrangements proposed by Aalto were not done, and his contribution was left to include the above-ground construction and the staircase.

The Pavilion is nowadays used as a entrance to a parking hall below ground level.

The classically stylish and architecturally distinctive Helsinki Hall of Culture, designed by renowned architect Alvar Aalto, opened in 1958. The year-round programme of events includes galas, pop and rock concerts by world-class acts, classical concerts, concerts by top Finnish bands and singers, and stand-up comedy shows.

It is possible to visit the building on a guided tour. Guided tours are organized upon request in collaboration with the Alvar Aalto Foundation, for more information please contact [email protected]. It is also possbile to visit the House of Culture during events. There's also a lunch restaurant, Sture4.

The Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters building by Alvar Aalto was completed in the centre of Helsinki, in the southern harbour (Eteläsatama), in 1962. Today the Stora Enso's Headquarters, the building is one of Aalto's most controversial works.

The building is only viewable from the outside.

Alvar Aalto designed these blocks of flats in Munkkiniemi for the employees of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland in 1952.

Restaurant Savoy has been at the very top of Helsinki's restaurant scene since the 1930's. Field marshal Mannerheim (or "Marski") was among the most well-known regulars, and his favorite dishes can still be found on the menu, eg. the vorschmack and filled-to-the-rim favorite shot.

The Savoy interior was designed by architects Aino and Alvar Aalto who brought their human-centered and functional touch to every detail in the restaurant. Opening in June 1937, the interior was rich in various species of wood and lush planting, and the use of fabrics was vivid. The atmospheric dining hall was framed by terraces on three sides. The interior showed the Aaltos' preference for welcoming and comfortable furniture and their sensitivity towards high-quality natural materials. In 2019-2020, the restaurant was re-designed by Ilse Crawford and Studioilse and renovated in co-operation with Artek, Helsinki City Museum and the Alvar Aalto Foundation.

Puro is a Scandinavian style lunch restaurant located in Kamppi in Sähkötalo (Helsinki Energy Office Building) designed by Alvar Aalto. Many materials typical for Alvar Aalto's designs, as well as Aaltos furniture and light fixtures are used in the restaurants' interior. There's also a nice view over the city centre from terrace on the 8th floor. During evenings and weekends the restaurant serves as a banquet venue for private and corporate events.

The Rautatalo office building, planned by Alvar Aalto, was completed in Helsinki city centre in 1955. The building was named Rautatalo ("Iron House") after the federation of Finnish hardware dealers that commissioned it. The main space is a light court, or marble courtyard, that extends from the first floor upwards. The courtyard serves today as a lunch restaurant open to public.

The main building of the National Pensions Institute (1956) was designed by architect Alvar Aalto, and is considered one out of five of his best works. Today it is a work environment for approx.500 persons but at the same time a highly valued architectural attraction.

The building can be visited on a guided tour on Mondays at 14.00 (pre-booking necessary, [email protected]).

Building planned by Alvar Aalto (1948-1952).