Alvar and Gösta – two Masters

At 10:00 Arrival in Mänttä, the Tale of the Finnish Forest tour.

We will arrive at the magnificent, former head office built in the 1930s, nowadays the Serlachius Museum Gustaf offering an abundance of experiences. We will time warp back to the year 1951, breathing in the hierarchical atmosphere of the head office. A stern recruiter will give us her personal welcome and test whether we are suitable for a position in the forest company!

We will also have an opportunity to make paper ourselves and get acquainted with the “Paper Devil”, G. A. Serlachius, who was a pioneer of the Finnish paper industry, notorious for his erratic business sense. His life and business affairs are shown in the eloquent exhibition that contains eight dramatized scenes.

At 12:00 Lunch at Art Museum Gösta

Next, we will visit the former manor house of Gösta Serlachius and the new pavilion next door, where lunch will be served from the menu created by leading Finnish chefs. All food is made from the best seasonal Finnish ingredients.

At 13:00 National art treasures and wood architecture at Art Museum Gösta

Art Museum Gösta is known for having one of the best collections from the Golden Age of Finnish art. Many of the artists from this period, 1880–1910, were strongly inspired by Finnish nature. We will also explore the new building, the large pavilion, an award-winning specimen of contemporary wood construction.

At 14:30 Coffee break

Coffee break at a peasant log cabin or Gösta’s ski cabin, which today serves as a wine bar. We will enjoy a cup of coffee or other beverages in an Autereen tupa, a traditional Finnish log-built house that used to be the residence of the estate manager, before we head to Jyväskylä, the Alvar Aalto capital.

At 17:00 Arrive in Jyväskylä

Jyväskylä is the capital of Alvar Aalto architecture. Jyväskylä is a bold and vibrant city in the middle of the most beautiful part of the Finnish lake-land. The city is known as the Alvar Aalto capital, as it boasts more buildings designed by the master than any other city in the world.

Independent dinner.

Accommodation at Hotel Verso.

Breakfast

At 10:00 Aalto Andante walking tour

Who was architect Alvar Aalto? What is the legacy of his design and architecture for the Finnish mental landscape? What did the landscape of Central Finland with is lakes and forests mean to Alvar Aalto? The tour takes us through the milestones of Alvar Aalto’s life and career, from a schoolboy to the iconic master of his art. We will hear interesting and fascinating stories about his life and his personal character, his professional highs and lows, and his sources of inspiration – and we will also learn about some of his unrealised projects.

Duration 3 hrs. The tour includes: Workers’ Club, Defence Corps Building, The Administrative and Cultural Centre, the police headquarters (Tietotalo), the city office building, Jyväskylä Theatre, University Campus and Alvar Aalto Museum.

At 13:00 Lunch at Café Alvar

We will have lunch together at the museum café, surrounded by Aalto’s architecture.

At 14:30 Aalto Bravo bus tour (2 h)

We board the bus and head for a number of major Alvar Aalto sites outside the city centre. The bus tour includes Muurame Church and Säynätsalo Town Hall, where we will stop for coffee. Säynätsalo Town Hall (1949–1952) is one of the most important works of Alvar Aalto and of 20th century architecture in general. The building has attracted global interest since it was first built. The majestic redbrick building has a raised atrium that leads to the entrance to the administrative offices and the library. The Assembly Hall stands higher than the rest of the group of buildings, sovereignly commanding the land-scape.

At 16:30 Arrive in Jyväskylä

Opportunity for shopping in the city centre and an independent dinner.

Finnish breakfast at Hotel Verso. Check Out.