Last weekend we did a super fast trip to Jyväskylä. Too short for all the stuff we wanted to see, so I guess we should return as I can't miss Alvar Aalto master pieces in Säynätsalo and its surroundings.
It was a bit messy, and as I forgot all the information about the trip at home we had to make several phone calls to be able to know the name of the hostel, the address...but finally we made it.
We got there by regular train, and we took our bikes with us (tho once there we realized that renting the bikes at Aalto Museum is 10€ first day, but we would have taken the risk that they were all rented...)
In Finland every single thing is thought to be done by bike, it is amazing. (taking the bike is 9€ each way) and the trains are very comfortable.
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| Our bikes in the train. Finland is awesome! |
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| Some troubles trying to find the hostel... |
As we were going up and down through the city by bike we took the opportunity to visit random places around it and also some interesting Aalto buildings.
It really caught my attention the way the city is think for the kids. Many parks for kids, with huge installations for playing, made of wood, with stone sculpture... If I had to choose a place in Finland to have my kids, Jyväskylä would be that.
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| Nice streets for and by kids in the north of the city |
Among the rain, we went to the new University of Jyväskylä, place on the other side of the lake, it reminds me of the cultura center of Tapiola, so as we guessed, and did well, it was projected by Arto Sipinen in 1999. The old University, place close to Aalto master piece, was also projected by him in 1969.
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| New University of Jyväskylä, Arto Sipinen 1999 |
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| Part of the new campus |
It is quite easy to reach the new University by bike. Surrounding by deep forest, the relief is flat, and the bridge is a nice gate for entering to a temple of wisdom, as an University is.
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| Stylish bridge that connects the city with the new University |
Another interesting thing to see is the city is the old Police Station. I wrote "old" because nowadays the use has changed, it is mixed with the theater but we couldn't guess precisely what it was.
It was projected by Alvar Aalto in 1970. Inspired by Le Corbusier, Aalto used the concrete in a massive/poetic way that I admire.
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| Detail of the curve of the concrete roof |
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| Detail of how Aalto treated the concrete. Notre Dame du-Haut? |
Contrast between materials and control of the scale. The more I know Aalto, the more I like his architecture.
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| The other side of the curve |
Is such a pleasure to understand his way of making architecture...
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| Contrast of shapes |
And here there are some interesting pictures... more to come in next posts...
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| Jyväskylä train station. By Kjisik, around 1995 |
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| Me at the Aalto Museum watching Aalto movie surrounded by Aalto posters, and Aalto funiture, and Aalto... |
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| Aalto is in the air |
We took some time on Sunday before we left for going to the Church of the city, read a bit about its history and rest for sometime, it was raining outside and we were quite tired of biking.
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| Church of the city |
On our way back home, we left the train in Pasila and we went through Munkkiniemi, beautiful residential area that I would love to show in this blog as soon as I can.
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| The way back home, going thought Munkkiniemi |
Interesting links...
Trains in Helsinki
Aalto Museum
Arto Sipinen
Harris and Kjisik architects
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