Architect Elissa Aalto

In 2022 it will be 100 years since the birth of the architect Elissa Aalto. The Alvar Aalto Foundation is highlighting Elissa Aalto’s life’s work in lots of ways during this anniversary year. Exhibition Architect Elissa Aalto presents how Alvar Aalto’s second wife and colleague played a major role in several of Aalto’s architect’s office’s projects and Elissa Aalto’s life’s work alongside her famous husband.

Elissa Aalto (née Elsa Mäkiniemi) graduated as an architect in 1949 and began working in Alvar Aalto’s architect’s office in the same year. At that time, the office was working on several architecture competitions and on some extensive public commissions in Finland and abroad. Following Aalto’s death, Elissa ran the office in 1976–1994, bringing to completion several unfinished building projects. She was an active player in the setting up of the Alvar Aalto Foundation, which fosters Aalto’s heritage.

A one-hour tour explores the history and architecture of Aalto’s office and Architect Elissa Aalto exhibition with an expert guide.