Wivi and Hanna in Säynätsalo, a guided walk

Wivi Lönn was born in Tampere in 1872, studied architecture at the Helsinki Polytechnic, and founded her own architectural practice as Finland's first female architect. In 1911 she moved to Jyväskylä to a city villa she had designed for herself and her mother, where she continued her independent architectural career. Jyväskylä was already familiar to her: her brothers lived there and she had already received commissions earlier.

Säynätsalo held special significance for Lönn. Located in the Päijänne archipelago, Säynätsalo developed around mechanical wood-processing industry and was from 1924 to 1993 an independent municipality - Finland's last patriarchally and matriarchally led industrial community. The last member of the founding family in factory management was trade counsellor Hanna Parviainen, and the Parviainen era in Säynätsalo ended in 1936.

Wivi and Hanna were life partners who also worked together - especially in Säynätsalo. Among their joint works visible on the walk are a home for the elderly as well as a sauna and laundry for workers. Wivi also designed a residential area for workers in Muuratsalo Haikka, which can be explored independently after the main walk.

The walk lasts approximately two hours and covers approximately three kilometres. The guide tells the story of Säynätsalo's history, the church designed by Armas Lindgren and Bertel Liljeqvist, and two statues by Wäinö Aaltonen. The walk begins and ends at Säynätsalo municipal building designed by Alvar Aalto. The price is 28 € or 18 € for students, pensioners and the unemployed; the price includes the guide booklet "Wivi, Hanna and Säynätsalo". Maximum 20 participants. Registration period 22.7-25.7.2026.

Organiser: Tavolo Bianco Oy, [email protected], 046 582 1060.