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Sunila - superb Modernist architecture
Alvar Aalto´s grand design for the industrial community of Sunila was built mainly between 1936 and 1939. The complex is comprised of both a pulp mill located on the island of Pyötinen and an extensive residential area. Aalto´s unique architecture had an international outlook and was developed in interaction with the modern trends of the time. Aalto adopted ideas from the design principles of Functionalism, yet toned them down and enriched them with his own personal touch.
Sunila today
The pulp mill community functioned as a complete entity. The pulp mill provided both work and housing, and there was a variety of community services. Over time this model of operations fell into decline and the Sunila residential area died down -but now things are changing and life is coming back into the community!
The Pro Sunila neighbourhood association has been operating since 2000. It strives to find the means to make this gem of Functionalism shine once again in the 21st century.
 The MOMONECO web pages offer in-depth information about Sunila and three other European Functionalist urban districts.
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