Alvar Aalto's Kymenlaakso

On the bike route you will get to explore Alvar Aalto's 1930s-1950s architecture in Karhula, Sunila, Hamina and Inkerois.

The buildings designed by Alvar Aalto are mostly freely positioned in the terrain considering the landforms. As a result, the connection to nature is a natural continuation of the views of buildings and homes. Nature, light and their connection to the homes were important to Aalto. Architectural holistic thinking and typical elements of Aalto's design language repeat in all Aalto sites in Kymenlaakso.

Aalto succeeded in adapting his buildings to nature and adding creativity and artistry to the harsh simplicity, and even today Aalto sites attract people.

Travelers interested in architecture, history and design can easily spend several days exploring buildings designed by Alvar Aalto, and also stay overnight in apartments designed by Aalto and decorated in his style.

Along this route there are 4 areas with buildings designed by Aalto:

Inkeroisten factory area

The buildings designed by Alvar Aalto for the Inkeroisten factory area were completed between 1937-1956. The complex consists of factory buildings, Rantalinja semi-detached houses, Tervalinja row houses, three detached houses, three apartment buildings, Tehtaanmäki school and Karhunkangas detached houses.

Hamina Petklee residential area

In Hamina you can explore the environment of the Summan paper mill designed by Alvar Aalto, as well as the apartments designed for the mill's workers and management in the Petklee residential area.

Karhula apartment buildings

Alvar Aalto's design in Karhula is represented by the residential buildings completed in 1945-1947 on Karhunkatu, known as the so-called tennis houses.

Sunila factory and workers' residential area

The large and unified residential area immediately shows Alvar Aalto's signature when arriving there. The factory completed in 1938 and the originally built residential area from 1937-1939 next to it form a complex clearly showing the influence of Alvar Aalto's 1930s modernism in its design.