Design Awards 2025: Alvar Aalto's Finlandia Hall is a modernist gem reborn through sustainability and accessibility

It is near-impossible to talk about Finnish architecture without touching on the work of modernist Alvar Aalto. His design for Finlandia Hall, a large concert and congress venue in Helsinki’s Töölö Bay, was built in 1971. It has since become a landmark, not only for its architect’s oeuvre but also for the city and Finland’s wider cultural scene. When Aalto conceived this public project in the early 1960s, it was part of a wider masterplan of its bay area.

Most of it never materialised, but the hall did, clad in marble, inspired by Venetian Palaces and the ancient architecture of Italy and Greece - coupled with the boldness and futuristic outlook of its modernist architecture genre. The architect’s knack for blending functionalism with a human-centred approach, his specific take on organic design, shines through the building, which sits by the water, gentle yet majestic.

The need for a 'new' Finlandia Hall

Yet, by 2019, nearly fifty years after its creation, Finlandia Hall was due a refresh. On one hand, the ageing structure has been increasingly requiring updates and fixes; at the same time, Finland was introducing tighter environmental sustainability standards across its built environment sector and an older scheme like this was falling short.

Chief Design Officer for the City of Helsinki Hanna Harris points out that the heating of buildings is behind more than half of Helsinki’s emissions, so transforming and updating existing fabric is as critical to lower Finland’s energy consumption, as integrating smart energy-saving choices in new ones. Now a listed monument and beloved city icon, Finlandia Hall is leading the way, revealing its refresh by Arkkitehdit NRT, a deep yet delicate restoration of its fabric and functions set to bring it to the 21st century.

The works included the refurbishment of the façade’s Italian marble, updating the technical systems, and improving accessibility and energy efficiency. Surfaces and furnishings (including 2150 lightning fixtures), most of which were designed by Aalto and his office in the architect’s typical organic style and natural materials, were painstakingly restored to their former glory.

The interiors also received a refresh, comprising the venue’s large auditorium and several multi-functional meeting halls which were designed to be adaptable to different sizes of events and uses. Mostly a faithful restoration, the scheme included the transformation of old storage and dressing rooms into exhibition space, and a new cafe, shop and restaurant (these will be open in summer 2025).

‘Finlandia Hall is a flexible building. Aalto has thought about the problem of simultaneous events and has solved it very elaborately. Despite this flexibility, trying to make changes to it turned out to be very difficult, due to its concrete construction. In the end, however, we happily achieved what we set out to do,’ says architect and Arkkitehdit NRT CEO Teemu Tuomi. ‘The most important act for sustainability in old buildings is to make them work as well as possible for the client.

When the building is optimal and effective in its use, it will become long-lasting and that way sustainable. In the renovation, we renewed the building's “infrastructure” to serve event visitors for the next decades. Of course, many other sustainability elements were implemented, for example, improving insulation, heat recovery, recycling and repairing thousands of building parts.’

‘Everyone who had a sneak-peak before the official opening has been left speechless with admiration,’ says Johanna Tolonen, CEO at Finlandia Hall. After the opening, the aim is to allow everybody who wants to walk inside, to be able to experience this beloved landmark. ‘Finlandia Hall has always been a gem and a source of pride for the nation, but the threshold for entering without an invitation to an event or a concert ticket in the past has been high.

With new services, we want all city residents and visitors to enjoy the dazzling beauty of Finlandia Hall from morning to evening. The new café is open from early morning, a bistro is available in the evening, and visiting the shop or touring the new exhibition from our comprehensive Finnish art collection will inspire your day,’ Tolonen continues.

Blending expert sustainability strategies with a mandate to open up its precious, historical architecture to all, Finlandia Hall is ready for the next chapter in its thoroughly future-proofed, long life.

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