In Finland, we sometimes take things for granted, and often do not appreciate how lucky we are or how our historical heritage is appreciated by others. One of our most famous architects, Alvar Aalto, is an example of this. Aalto has been recognised globally for many years, and in Finland, he has of course been praised as a Finn worthy of celebration. However, we often praise those works that are well known whilst sometimes forgetting those works that have been part of normal residential areas. In some areas, we are even guilty of allowing our cultural heritage to disappear altogether. In Kymenlaakso, we have heritage sites of interest designed by Aalto that are often overlooked.

This book is related to the architecture of Alvar Aalto that can be found in the Kymenlaakso region of Finland. It is in no way meant as a definitive collection of all of the works he had a hand in designing, but rather a small sample of the various types of architecture that can be seen in the region. They include a pulp mill, a school, and a sample of private homes and apartments. The images of the private homes together with short stories of the residents, give a brief insight into their lives and how they live with the spirit of Aalto. The photographs are not meant to be true architectural images, but rather they are meant to show the reality of the spaces and how they are used and lived in today. The idea of this work was to try to capture the living spirit of Aalto by photographing the spaces in use as he intended with all of the chaos of daily life and by users leaving their own mark on the spaces they inhabit. It is hoped that the photographs and brief stories in this book will awaken renewed interest in Alvar Aalto’s architectural works in Kymenlaakso and that people of the region will be proud of their world-renowned cultural heritage.