Image credit: Proloog/Snøhetta
Snøhetta has unveiled a new masterplan for the future of Paimio Sanatorium, a Finnish modernist building designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto. The proposal would see the site transformed into a destination for hospitality, wellness, and culture.
Image credit: Proloog/Snøhetta
Image credit: Proloog/Snøhetta
Developed in collaboration with the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation, the proposal outlines a long-term vision for adapting the former tuberculosis sanatorium while preserving the principles that informed the original design. Completed in 1933, the building was conceived as a therapeutic environment, with architecture, light, fresh air, and surrounding forest all considered parts of the treatment of tuberculosis patients.
Image credit: Proloog/Snøhetta
The masterplan proposes converting the former surgery wing into a 200-seat auditorium with a dedicated visitor entrance, allowing events to operate independently from the site’s day-to-day functions. The existing patient wing would be adapted into hotel accommodation through minimal interventions intended to preserve the original room proportions while introducing a range of room types with modern amenities. New bathroom units are designed as freestanding birch veneer elements, distinguishing contemporary additions from the historic fabric.
Image credit: Proloog/Snøhetta
Other proposals include reopening the building’s iconic sun balconies by removing later glass enclosures and introducing a lower-level spa with direct access to the surrounding forest. New landscape interventions would replace the existing asphalt forecourt with slate paving and new planting while creating a new entrance that strengthens the relationship between the building and its natural setting.
Image credit: Proloog/Snøhetta
The masterplan forms part of the ongoing revitalization of Paimio Sanatorium, which began following the establishment of the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation in 2020. Research commissioned by the foundation identified a combined well-being center, hotel, and cultural destination as the most suitable long-term use for the site.
Image credit: Proloog/Snøhetta
The first phase of the masterplan was developed by Snøhetta in collaboration with Helsinki-based ALA Architects and Mustonen Architects. Paimio Sanatorium is also among the Aalto sites nominated for inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, with a decision expected next month.
Image credit: Proloog/Snøhetta
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