In the Land of good taste

trip to a pioneer of modern architecture

Endless seeming forest passes by, until the bus ride takes place in Säynätsalo. Säynätsalo is a on the homonymous island in the Päijänne-lake district of Jyväskylä. Before us is a red-brick building, with a climbing plant-covered window fronts and a Meadow with a fountain. You do not want to believe it at first, but we are entering one of the most important works of Alvar Aalto: the 1952 completed town hall, Säynätsalo.

"Alvar Aalto's architectural focus was the connection of the Inner and outer lives using organic materials", the travel companion in Aalto's. In the interior of the building, brightness, and wood exude immediately a pleasant atmosphere. The wood smells still, the floor-to-ceiling window in the old hall draw the eye to the green inner courtyard, and in the city Council hall, a soft light falls through the slats. The connection between the Inside and Outside of succeed.

The Paimio armchair by Alvar Aalto.

A trip to the Finnish lake district does not necessarily have just out of pure experience of nature. Those who opt for a Tour along the waters of southern Finland, it may take confidently a Design-oriented turn, and, for example, on the trail of Alvar Aalto. A detour is well worth it. Aalto (1898-1976), architect, town planner and furniture designer, was a Finnish pioneer of modern architecture. His preference was for organic materials. Metal he scorned. Especially when designing furniture. One of Aalto developed the wood deformation process he used in the manufacture of the world-famous Paimio chair.

another building, Aalto's, which we visit, is in the Nordic classicism built in the Church of Muurame from the year 1929. The 2016 extensively renovated, the Church shows the outside of Aalto's early love of Italy: the bell tower, the columns and arches, the bright colours. The Church interior was largely altered. The large altar painting by William Lönneberg and a chandelier Aalto's remember the year. Who doesn't have as much time to follow Aalto's footsteps, is also repealed in accordance with the artist named Museum in Jyväskylä. There will be live and Create in detail recorded.

look for mushrooms in the home of bears and moose

The bags are housed in the cosy block houses on the Kaitlampi lake. Already Annu Huotari, our hostess, on the forecourt, equipped with basket and kitchen knives. The mushrooms for the dinner, we will gather themselves in the forest. The silence in the Nuuksio national Park is amazing: Not even a bird chirping, you can hear this afternoon. With reverence, we entered the narrow forest trail that rises easily, pass trees and bushes. You have taken on the color of late summer. Remarkably soft, the floor is needles, densely covered with Fir. The velvet moss pulls to the right and left above ground and stones. On the Branches hang green delicate beard lichens, the, note, explained point us to a good air quality. Also bears and elk are at home here. How to react to wild animals, but was learnable, soothes us, Finn.

The first mushrooms can not be long in coming. Light yellow chanterelles, such as small pieces of gold in the thicket. Annu places them gently in the basket. Later, you will. this results in a delicious Grilled side dish on the campfire to prepare, we allow ourselves to be with other homemade meals

The Morning is cool, mist has placed the lake under a mystical blanket. Only very slowly, the picturesque lake landscape emerges, with the typical huts and jetties. The Name of the resort, Hawkhill Villas & Wilderness, stands for sustainable tourism. Anyone who loves seclusion, and the respectful handling of nature estimates, is here in good hands, and let go of everyday life quickly.

jewel in the impressive museums

staying longer in Helsinki and museums inspire, should take the Amos Rex on the program. With this Institution, Helsinki, extended his remarkable museums of the landscape to another gem. The Finns prove here, too, good taste. The construction is an eye-catcher. What was built in 1936 as a practical business centre for the Olympic games, makes today the perfect fusion of the Old and the New. The local architecture office JKMM is it possible to integrate the existing glass Palace (Lasipalatsi) carefully in the new work.

International top-of-the art has its appearance: The newly opened exhibition rooms of the Amos Rex in Helsinki

While the exhibition rooms of the Museum are almost exclusively under the earth and form beautiful bays with the light of day supplies, have to leave to the architects the glass Palace in the style of the 30s, even on the inside. There are also Restaurants, shops and the renovated cinema Bio Rex."We want to top international art of the 20th century. and 21. To get century to us", says Director Kai Kartio. The program of the Museum is characterized by contemporary, often experimental art. For this spring a large Rene-Magritte-retrospective and an exhibition of Studio Drift in Amsterdam planned. The Museum also offers art Workshops and guided tours. And like most Museum Shops, tasteful Souvenirs, and should prefer to the travellers of the mass-produced goods at the airport necessarily.

The trip was supported by Glur travel and Visit Finland

arrival: Finnair flies twice daily from Zurich and up to twice a day from Geneva to Helsinki. www.finnair.com
transportation: is The transport network of Rail, air, road and water is well developed and reliable.
Arrangement Glur: round-trip "Versatile Finland" by ship and rail from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, stay in Tampere and Jyväskylä, ab1955 Fr. P. P incl. Flight, Hotel and train/ship travel (base double room)holiday homes and house boats on the lake Päijänne (990 Fr. per house/week), additional holiday houses in the whole of Finland, cities, flight to Helsinki from the 715 Fr. p. p. (incl. 2 nights in Helsinki) www.glur.ch
accommodations: Hawkhill Villas & Wilderness, Tervalampi;www.hawkhill.fi; Sokos Hotels www.sokoshotels.fi
Restaurants: Restaurant Pöllöwaari in Jyväskylä; www.ravintolapollowaari.fi; a Sauna, and a Restaurant Kuuma, Tampere; www.saunaravintolakuuma.fi Restaurant Loiste, Helsinki www.raflaamo.fi
museums: Museum of Alvar Aalto, Jyväskylä; www.alvaraalto.fi; Amos Rex, Helsiniki www.amosrex.fi;Serlachius Museum, Mänttä; www.serlachius.fi
General. Info: www.visitfinland.com/de

(Sunday newspaper)

Created: 18.01.2019, 15:19 PM