Saynatsalo Town Hall – Alvar Aalto

 

Image Source: Fernanda Castro. Photo of Säynätsalo Town Hall , Alvar Aalto.
Available from: ArchDaily,  http://www.archdaily.com/783392/ad-classics-saynatsalo-town-hall-alvar-aalto (accessed October 12, 2017).

Image Source: Fernanda Castro. Photo of Säynätsalo Town Hall , Alvar Aalto.
Available from: ArchDaily,  http://www.archdaily.com/783392/ad-classics-saynatsalo-town-hall-alvar-aalto (accessed October 12, 2017).

Western staircase

Image Source: Fernanda Castro. Photo of Säynätsalo Town Hall , Alvar Aalto.
Available from: ArchDaily, http://www.archdaily.com/783392/ad-classics-saynatsalo-town-hall-alvar-aalto (accessed October 12, 2017).

Image Source: Morgan, William. ID Number: 376431
http://library.artstor.org.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/asset/ASAHARAIG_111212446689 (accessed October 12. 2017)

Eastern staircase View Description: Exterior
Image Source: Isenstadt, Sandy
http://library.artstor.org.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/#/asset/ASAHARAIG_1113125618 (accessed October 12. 2017)Landscape plan
ID Number: BWR3755247
Image Source: http://library.artstor.org.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/asset/AWSS35953_35953_29398247 (accessed October 12. 2017)Plan at courtyard level
ID Number: BWR3755247
Image Source: http://library.artstor.org.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/asset/AWSS35953_35953_29398244 (accessed October 12. 2017)Plan at ground-floor level
ID Number: BWR3755247
Image Source: http://library.artstor.org.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/asset/AWSS35953_35953_29398239 (accessed October 12. 2017)North-south section
ID Number: BWR3755247
Image Source: http://library.artstor.org.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/asset/AWSS35953_35953_29398290 (accessed October 12. 2017)West-east section
ID Number: BWR3755247
Image Source: http://library.artstor.org.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/asset/AWSS35953_35953_29398285(accessed October 12. 2017)

North elevation
ID Number: BWR3755247
Image Source: http://library.artstor.org.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/asset/AWSS35953_35953_29398280 (accessed October 12. 2017)

South elevation through the courtyard
ID Number: BWR3755247
Image Source: http://library.artstor.org.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/asset/AWSS35953_35953_29398295 (accessed October 12. 2017)Sketch
ID Number: BWR3755247
Image Source: http://library.artstor.org.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/asset/AWSS35953_35953_29400233 (accessed October 12. 2017)

The overall style of Saynatsalo Town Hall is a combination of the local architectural features of Finland and the style of Italian Renaissance. It is made of red brick, with a courtyard in the center. The design combines the natural conditions of neighboring town, inserting a courtyard which is lifted one story above the surrounding landscape. Alvar Aalto always wanted to integrate native and classical forms into a more primitive and more authentic form of expression . So the hall was made by local traditional materials. Red rough walls hiddening in the green plants leads to a strong contrast between the building and the natural environment.