Contributions appreciated

“Aalto’s first major church design of his mature period was the commission in 1956 for Vuoksenniska in Imatra, eastern Finland. In this project, built between 1957 and 1959, he followed the new plastic expressionism which had been created in the design for the House of Culture, Helsinki (begun in 1955). The asymmetrical auditorium for the House of Culture becomes in the Imatra church a three-part shell form, also slightly asymmetrical, that allows the building to accommodate three different sizes of congregation. One third or two thirds of the church may be closed off by ‘sliding walls’, housed in the corresponding curved enclosures on the right hand side of the nave, that form the external walls. The ceiling is also shaped in the form of three distinct ‘shells’, developing a progressive undulation from altar to rear organ-loft that is reminiscent of the innovatory design for the Viipuri lecture room ceiling.”

— Malcolm Quantrill. Alvar Aalto: a Critical Study. p198.

DetailsThe church was designed in 1956 and built 1957 to 1959.

Partitions are used to separate the three main parts of the church: with the partitions in position, the church can seat a congregation of 290 and when they are removed, 800 people can be accommodated.