Villa Väinölä

About the museum

Architect Alvar Aalto designed a villa in the centre of Alajärvi in 1926 for his brother, land surveyor Väinö Aalto, as a home and office. The model for the atrium house was Fra Angelico’s fresco The Annunciation in the monastery of San Marco in Florence, and the house’s main theme is a central hall whose sky-blue ceiling is reminiscent of the open air. Väinö Aalto considered the first plan too expensive, so Aalto drew a simpler version. An outbuilding was planned to go with the house in 1938.

Väinö Aalto lived in the house with his family until 1950. Alajärvi municipality bought the building in 1952, and since then it has housed, among other things, the municipal doctor’s residence, the tax office, a dentist’s practice and municipal offices. The house stood empty for a dozen years or so until it was renovated in a restoration completed in spring 2018, funded by the Finnish Heritage Agency (Museovirasto), Aisapari and the municipality.

The Nelimarkka Museum has managed the building since 2015. Exhibitions, events and architecture residency activities are held in Villa Väinölä, and the building can be rented for meetings and celebrations.

Highlights

• Alvar Aalto’s early atrium villa from 1926
• Central hall with a sky-blue ceiling
• Exhibitions and events
• Residency for architecture and space

Founded

1926

Operated by

Nelimarkka-museo (Alajärven kaupunki)

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The villa is located in the centre of Alajärvi at Väinöntie 4.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

The building can be rented for meetings and celebrations.