Experience the Super Weekend of Design - Aalto-Homes ja Loviisa Old Houses August 29-30
Spend the last weekend of August (29-30 August) immersed in architecture, design, and beautiful interiors on Finland’s East Coast. During one memorable trip, you can visit the newly inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sunila in Kotka during the Sunila Aalto Homes event and explore the charming century-old wooden houses at the Loviisa Old Houses event.
Welcome to the UNESCO World Heritage site Sunila
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed the Sunila Residential Area on the UNESCO World Heritage List together with twelve other Aalto sites included in the Aalto Works nomination at the end of July.
At the Sunila Aalto Homes event, Alvar Aalto’s most extensive design project, the Sunila residential area, will open its doors to the public on August 29-30. You can take a peek into private homes in a maritime residential area dotted with unique white buildings, majestic pine trees, and extensive green areas.
Loviisa Old Houses Invites You to the Beautiful Wooden Homes
On the same weekend, the idyllic town of Loviisa, with its century-old wooden houses and the families who lovingly care for them, welcomes visitors to marvel at its beauty. The owners of these old houses are united by their love of craftsmanship, design, and preserving beauty and atmosphere. Every detail and object has its own story and meaning, which they are happy to share with their guests. There are tens of houses to see, each one more beautiful than the last.
Sunila Is an Icon of Aalto’s Architecture
The Sunila residential area, known as a workers’ paradise, was completed in the 1930s and was once presented at world exhibitions in Paris and New York. Located on a forest slope by the sea, Sunila has become an icon of Aalto’s architecture. The complex also includes the Sunila pulp mill, also designed by Aalto and called the most beautiful factory in the world.
The culturally and historically valuable Sunila and its treasures are admired even as far away as Asia. For example, Japanese professional soccer player and design enthusiast Atomu Tanaka fell so in love with Sunila that he moved there. Former Member of the European Parliament Nils Torvalds also lives in Sunila.
Loviisa Old Houses is Full of Lovely Details
Diverse windows with varying pane divisions, moldings and patterned cutouts, corners and projections, columns, friezes, ornaments… Loviisa Old Houses event challenges us to focus our gaze on the details, on the little subtleties found in buildings.
Everything that is characteristic of old buildings, which delights us and speaks of the expressive desire, ingenuity, skill, and diligence of the builders and developers of past generations… The spirit of the times, the “beautiful futility” that we have come to miss.
Loviisa Old Houses, August 29–30, 10am to 5pm. Sunila Aalto homes, August 29–30
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