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Sunila: The forest suburb that Aalto fans have discovered, too
On the southeastern coast of Finland, in the port town of Kotka, lies Sunila – the country’s first modern forest suburb, designed by Alvar and Aino Aalto. Built between the 1930s and 1950s, its homes originally housed workers from the nearby pulp mill. Today, they’ve also found a new kind of resident: architecture and design lovers with a soft spot for the Aaltos. Join us for a peek inside two design-minded Aalto homes!
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Alvar Aalto’s architecture joins the UNESCO World Heritage List
The Aalto Works series, comprising 13 sites designed by Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto, is Finland’s eighth addition to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Discover the newly inscribed World Heritage sites on Design Stories!
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Snøhetta plans a hotel and spa for the Aaltos’ Paimio Sanatorium
Paimio Sanatorium, one of the most iconic buildings in modern architecture, is set for a new future. Renowned Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta has developed a Masterplan for the sanatorium, completed in 1933 and located in Paimio, southwestern Finland – and the vision is as ambitious as the building itself.
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Villa Skeppet: Alvar Aalto’s last private home is monumental yet intimate
Designed by Alvar Aalto, Villa Skeppet is located near the center of Ekenäs, Finland. Aalto designed the house in the late 1960s for his close friend, writer Göran Schildt, and Schildt’s wife, Christine. Villa Skeppet would become the last private home Aalto designed during his career.
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90 years of design – Artek celebrates with Marimekko
A story of wood meets a story of pattern. Artek and Marimekko join forces in a one-of-a-kind anniversary collection where Alvar Aalto’s classics wear Maija Isola’s daring designs.
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In the footsteps of Alvar Aalto – An architectural tour of his hometown Jyväskylä
Alvar Aalto designed nearly 30 buildings in and around his hometown of Jyväskylä, located in Central Finland. Among them are some of his most internationally acclaimed works, which encapsulate his multifaceted and human-centered approach to architecture. The city also features lesser-known early projects, whose tradition-inspired architecture may come as a surprise.
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Nordic design in South Korea: A house inspired by Alvar Aalto on the hillside of Seoul
At the top of a hillside neighborhood in Seoul lives a creative couple, Dora and Egg 2. Design Stories visited this elegant home to meet the owners and learn about their inspirations, daily life, and the thoughtful renovation that brought their dream home to life – complete with a curated collection of vintage Artek pieces.
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A visit to Studio Aalto, the heart of Alvar Aalto’s creative work
When Alvar Aalto designed a new building for his architectural practice in Helsinki in the mid-1950s, he created a light-filled studio space with gently curved walls and a view of a courtyard shaped like an amphitheater. Join Design Stories for a visit to Studio Aalto – a place where creativity, architecture, and everyday life intertwined.
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Villa Kokkonen – a unique artist’s residence designed by Alvar Aalto
Alvar Aalto designed a home for composer Joonas Kokkonen that blends beautifully into the landscape, and inside opens up like a fan around the studio and grand piano. Come and explore Villa Kokkonen with Design Stories!
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Design Stories is the online magazine of Finnish Design Shop, created to inspire and delight design lovers everywhere. We hope you enjoy exploring with us! Have a story tip or thoughts on our content? We’d love to hear from you.
