A Hollow House in the Woods
Experimental House was designed by famed Finnish architect Alvar Aalto in 1952. The house was built to serve as a summer getaway and also as an experimental laboratory to test out construction and architecture philosophies such as: foundation systems, free-form brick construction and passive solar heating. [Source]
According to galinsky.com:
“The house is a simple courtyard scheme with an inward focus and carefully directed views out to nearby Lake Paijanne. The three surrounding enclosures of the courtyard serve as screen, living rooms, and bedchambers. In the middle of the courtyard stands a well-used fire pit. Viewing the inner courtyard walls shows over fifty different types of bricks arranged in countless patterns. The bricks are placed not only to test their aesthetic values, but also to gauge how they hold up in Finland’s harsh climate. Inside, a raised loft area held in tension by large wooden beams was used as a painting studio.”
[Sources: ArchDaily, Nico Saieh Photography, galinsky]
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Visiting the Experimental House by Alvar Aalto
The Experimental house is located south of Jyvaskyla and Saynatsalo Town Hall on the water of a village called Muuratsalo. The house is open to the public from June to August (exception: closed June 22 for Midsummer). Guided tours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. Visiting the area is only allowed via the guided tour. The maximum number allowed at one time is twenty people.
From Jyvaskyla in a car: Take 9/E63 south out of the city. Get off on the Saynatsalontie road exit. Take a right onto Saynatsalontie at the end of the curved exit ramp. Saynatsalontie will turn into Kinkomaantie. You’ll cross over a body of water and at the T intersection take a let onto Parviaisentie. After you cross over a bridge take a right onto Saaritie. Two bridge crossings later take a right onto Vuorenlahdenkatu. Stay on Vuorenlahdenkatu and bear left onto Melalammentie. The house is on the right down a small path leading from the road. Check in is at the entry fence near the road.
For more information contact the Alvar Aalto Museum Ticket Office: +358 (0)14 624 809, fax +358 (0)14 619 009, email museum@alvaraalto.fi
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