Studio Aalto: Alvar Aalto’s Design Office

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updated Jul 12, 2019

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Name: Alvar Aalto
Location: Helsinki, Finland

After Alvar Aalto’s firm had outgrown the small studio space in his family’s home the Atelier was built in 1955 in a residential neighborhood just a short walk away from Riihitie 20, west of the Helsinki city center.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

The Aalto Studio is almost hidden from the street. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Like his home, the Atelier facade is nearly windowless and quite plain. The majority of windows are on the rear and sides of the building where they can take full advantage of the limited (in winter) Finnish sunlight.

Upon entrance, the building is home to the office of the Alvar Aalto Foundation, the Alvar Aalto Academy and the Alvar Aalto Museum Architectural Heritage. The foundation maintains both the home at Riihitie 20 and this studio building. The majority of the space that is open for touring is the second floor office and meeting space.

The office include a large group drafting room, a small private conference room and a large studio space that was the private office Alvar Aalto. Check the image captions within the tour for details of furniture and lighting designs.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

The kitchen and group dining area “The Taverna” was added in 1963. Check the image captions in the tour for kitchen details like the ingenious pass-through cabinets and drawers.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Images: Aaron Able

MORE AALTO IN HELSINKI
• House Tour: Riihitie 20: The Aalto Family Home, Studio & Laboratory
• Dwell | Alvar Aalto in Lights

• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.

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