Alvar Aalto -museo

About the museum

The Alvar Aalto -museo (Alvar Aalto Museum) is a national responsibility museum that looks after the architectural and design heritage of Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto. The museum’s collections and archives cover the works of the Aaltos and of the Aalto office up to 1994, when the office ceased operations. They are located mainly in Jyväskylä, where the expert services are also based. In addition to Jyväskylä, the museum operates in Helsinki, where the Alvar Aalto’s home and studio can be visited.

The Jyväskylä museum house was designed by Alvar Aalto. The Aalto2 museum centre combines two buildings designed by Aalto: the Alvar Aalto Museum and the Keski-Suomen museo (Central Finland Museum). In the 2023 renovation a new connecting section with a lift was built between the buildings, which improved accessibility.

The museum offers architecture and design education for all ages and cooperates with the Jyväskylä education services and the network of Alvar Aalto schools. In Jyväskylä visitors can also explore Aalto sites such as the Muuratsalo Experimental House and the Säynätsalo Town Hall on guided tours.

Highlights

• Museum building in Jyväskylä designed by Alvar Aalto
• Permanent exhibition AALTO – työ ja elämä (AALTO – Work and Life)
• Visitor centre for the Aalto sites that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage
• Aalto2 Shop and Aalto2 Café
• Guided tours of Aalto sites, including the Muuratsalo Experimental House

Permanent exhibitions

• AALTO – työ ja elämä – The basic exhibition of the Alvar Aalto Museum, which presents the life and work of Alvar Aalto.
• Aalto Works – Unescon maailmanperintö – The visitor centre presents the 13 sites of Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto that are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Founded

1966

Operated by

Alvar Aalto -säätiö

Admission & discounts

One admission ticket is valid throughout the Aalto2 museum house. The Museokortti is accepted.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The connecting section with a lift, built in the 2023 renovation, provides step-free access between the Alvar Aalto Museum and the Central Finland Museum, and there is a lift near the information point. An accessible toilet is near the main doors, and another is beside the Kulma workshop space on the Alvar Aalto Museum side; the accessible toilets have a changing table, a potty and a drinking point. Service dogs are welcome. Wheelchairs, rollators and pushchairs can be borrowed from beside the information point, and there are Alvar Aalto stools in the permanent exhibitions for resting. The floors are not suitable for studded shoes, which must be left in the cloakroom area.

Kids & families

• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Pushchairs can be borrowed from beside the information point. The museum has its own family page and programmes for schools and day-care centres.

Getting there & parking

There is a bicycle rack in front of the museum.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Aalto2 Café and Aalto2 Shop (design products). The cloakrooms are near the main entrance and beside the café doors in the lobby of the Alvar Aalto Museum; next to them are free lockable storage cabinets. Overshoe covers are available in the cloakroom area.

Events & venue rental

Room hire and services: sales@aalto2.museum.

Plan your visit