The Aalto Centre (Finnish: Aalto-keskus) is an urban area milieu in the city of Rovaniemi, in the Finnish Lapland, designed by the renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, comprising the city's key administrative and cultural buildings.[1]
Up to 90% of Rovaniemi's building stock was destroyed during the Lapland War by the retreating German forces, necessitating the rebuilding of the city centre.[1][2] In January 1945, Rovaniemi commissioned a new urban design from the Finnish Association of Architects rebuilding unit, with the design work headed by Alvar Aalto.[2]
Aalto's eventual design, approved in 1946, is called Poronsarvikaava lit. 'Reindeer Antler Plan',[3] and incorporates five arterial roads forming the shape of a reindeer antler.[4][5] In 1960, when Rovaniemi was granted its city charter, the formal decision was made to implement Aalto's plan.[5]
At the centre of the design, the complex of Aalto-designed public and administrative buildings is known as 'Aalto Centre'.[5]
The complex has been designated and protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency as a nationally important built cultural environment (Valtakunnallisesti merkittävä rakennettu kulttuuriympäristö).[5]
The Rovaniemi cityscape is one of two urban plans designed by Aalto which were eventually completed; the other being that in Seinäjoki.
Notable Aalto-designed buildings in the centre include:
The park surrounding the Aalto Centre also forms an integral part of the milieu.[9]