In January 2025, Finland nominated 13 properties designed by Aalto’s office for the World Heritage List under “Aalto Works.” Five of these are in Helsinki: Studio Aalto, Aalto House, Finlandia Hall, the Social Insurance Institution Main Office, and the House of Culture. The refurbished Finlandia Hall, now featuring expanded public spaces such as restaurants, exhibition areas, and overnight apartments, is the perfect gateway to Alvar Aalto’s architecture in Helsinki. The legendary modernist shaped the cityscape, designing homes, stores, restaurant interiors, furniture, and even door handles. Here are the top destinations to explore his work.
Finland’s most renowned architect, Alvar Aalto (1898-1976), lived and worked in Helsinki, primarily in the Munkkiniemi district, where his home and studio are now museums. He also designed several major landmarks, including a 1959 master plan for the city center, though only parts of it were realized. Perhaps Aalto’s most celebrated work in Helsinki, Finlandia Hall, is a striking concert and conference venue with a white Carrara marble façade and geometric forms. Opened in 1971, it was the only element of his Töölönlahti bay plan to be built. After decades of use, a major renovation by Helsinki-based Arkkitehdit NRT was completed in January 2025.
For the first time, Finlandia Hall is open to all, not just event attendees, transforming into a shared space for residents and visitors. Highlights include a rooftop terrace with panoramic views, a bistro and wine café designed by FYRA, and two elegantly refurbished apartments furnished with Artek classics. In June 2025, a permanent exhibition will debut, showcasing the work of Aalto and his architect wives, Aino and Elissa, exploring their design principles and impact on modern architecture and Finnish design.
The Aalto House as seen from the outside. The studio is located in the white section on the left side of the building. Photo: Maija Holma / Alvar Aalto Foundation
Discovering Aalto’s Helsinki
Start at Finlandia Hall, then take a short tram ride to the Aalto House (1934-36) in Munkkiniemi, a museum showcasing their interior designs alongside works by Le Corbusier, Alexander Calder, and Poul Henningsen. Nearby, Studio Aalto (1954-55, 1962-63) offers insight into his workspace.
In the city center, visit the Academic Bookstore (1969), a masterpiece of light and space with marble interiors. Nearby, you’ll find Aalto’s first public Helsinki building, the Erottaja Pavilion (1951), the Iron House (1951–57), popular for lunch, and (and the minimalist Stora Enso headquarters (1962), nicknamed the “Sugar Cube.” The building’s top floor hosts Restaurant Toppa, opened in 2024, offering panoramic views and an Aalto-designed interior modernized by Franz Design.
For dinner, the legendary Savoy (1936-37) features interiors originally designed by Ainoa and Alvar Aalto together and updated by Ilse Crawford in 2020, retaining its iconic birch veneers, Aino Aalto’s club chairs, and Alvar Aalto’s timeless lighting.
End the day at the House of Culture (1952-58), which reopened in 2023 after a renovation led by Fyra and JKMM Architects. The revamped Alppisali event space, originally a cinema, now functions as Kult, a venue for concerts and live events.
For those eager to explore further, Helsinki and its surroundings offer even more Aalto-designed sites, perfect for a second or even third day of discovery. In Helsinki, you’ll find also the Social Insurance Institution Main Office (1953–57), considered one of Aalto’s top five works. Just a short metro ride away in Espoo, Aalto University serves as an inspiring hub for creativity, bringing together arts, design, architecture, and business. Aalto designed the original layout of the Otaniemi campus with his first wife, Aino Aalto, and his studio was responsible for several buildings on-site, including the fan-shaped main building, which today functions as the Undergraduate Centre.
timeless design. Photo: Anton Sucksdorff / Savoy
Artek: Timeless Icons of Sustainable Design
Alvar Aalto’s legacy is inseparable from Artek, the pioneering furniture company he co-founded in 1935. Known for its innovative and timeless design, Artek continues to embody his humanistic values. From the bentwood curves of Stool 60 to the elegant simplicity of the Aalto Vase, its pieces have become global icons of Nordic modernism, available at the flagship store in central Helsinki.
In 2025, Artek celebrates its 90th anniversary. The company has strengthened its focus on sustainability through Artek 2nd Cycle, a platform dedicated to giving pre-loved Artek pieces a new lease on life. This initiative also includes a dedicated shop just a short walk from the flagship store. For those seeking Aalto-inspired design at home, head online to Finnish Design Shop. They offer a special treat for design enthusiasts: a rare, handcrafted reissue of his 1933 wooden relief, showcasing the flowing curves of his iconic Paimio chair.
Visit renewed MyHelsinki.fi and learn more on Alvar Aalto’s Helsinki.
