Step back in time and experience Alvar Aalto’s Sunila

Sunila is Finland’s first so-called forest town and one of the most historic in Finland. This was the grand project by Alvar Aalto and was built in the years 1936-1939, and includes a pulp mill and a spacious residential area. You can step back in time and experience the historic town with Sunila Design Apartments.

Nestled in southern Finland near the sea and amongst trees, you will find the historic settlement of Sunila. The Finnish architect Alvar Aalto designed the Sunila pulp mill and residential area in the years 1936-1939 (Enlargement 1947-1954). Sunila is the largest finished project by the world-renowned architect. While the pulp mill is no longer in use and Sunila is like many other residential areas in Finland these days, the rich history lives on in the architecture and people’s minds. You can experience this for yourself with Sunila Design Apartments.

Anne Stocker and Pirmin Mader own three apartments in Sunila that they rent out on Airbnb or via email. The couple lived in Switzerland for many years, where Pirmin is from, but always had the idea of moving to Finland when they retired, as Anne is originally from there. In fact, she grew up in Kotka, not too far from Sunila.

“In 2020, we heard about the Alvar Aalto buildings in Sunila, and we wanted to buy a few apartments if possible. It’s really outstanding architecture. In our opinion, this is one of the best examples of modern architecture in Finland,” says Anne. While Anne has a background in nursing and as a midwife, she has had several art exhibitions as well and also has a degree in art, whilst Pirmin is working in the construction business as a geologist. The couple has an interest in architecture and design, so buying apartments in Sunila was only natural.

Immerse yourself in history

Sunila Mill was once considered the most beautiful factory in the world and the surrounding residential area became an icon of Aalto’s international modernism. His work was presented at the World’s Fairs in both Paris in 1937 and in New York in 1939.

“The architecture was modern for that time. It’s a little bit Bauhaus style, but nature is incorporated into the architecture. Alvar Aalto embraced ideas from the design principles of the functionalism era and enriched them with his own personal vision,” explains Anne. “The surroundings are also really beautiful. There are a lot of old pine trees and the houses are placed so that you are surrounded by nature, and it’s only a five-minute walk to the sea.”

The couple has renovated the inside of the apartments, so that all original elements were retained. “We wanted to keep the soul of Alvar and Aino Aalto in the apartments, that’s why we chose also original furniture from the building time or created by Finnish designers,” says Pirmin. “We have kept the soul of the ’30s. For instance, also the new kitchens are built in the old style and we have used linoleum floors made from natural materials.”

The three apartments Aino, Eero and Alvar have their own style. Aino was the wife of Alvar Aalto and the flat offers an authentic living experience with the charm of the 1930s and classics from Artek. The Eero flat, named after Finnish architect and designer Eero Saarinen, combines interior design from the Space Age and icons of Finnish designs. And the Alvar flat combines Aino and Alvar Aalto’s planning and historical elegance.

Sunila is currently nominated to be on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which will be decided in 2026. As chairman of the Pro Sunila Association, Anne has done a lot of work for the preservation of the settlement within the last years.

Anne and Pirmin encourage you to stay in Sunila for at least a couple of nights to immerse yourself in the history of the area. In each apartment, you will also find several books about the architecture and history of Sunila – perfect to leaf through as you enjoy a cuppa.

Experience the magic of Lapland

If you want to experience Finnish Lapland, Anne and Pirmin also have an Airbnb on the shore of a small lake near the village of Ivalo. This is the place for anyone looking to really immerse themselves in nature. Here, you can go hiking in autumn, experience the Northern lights in wintertime, go on husky tours, go fishing in summertime and just enjoy the clean, crisp air. This is a more intimate experience, where Anne and Pirmin open their own home to guests from all over the world who dream of experiencing the magic of Lapland.

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