Finland’s Paimio Sanatorium designed by Aino and Alvar Alto will be reimagined by Snøhetta as a new “wellness” destination and diplomacy summit.
The former tuberculosis clinic finished in 1933 will combine “hospitality, wellness, cultural spaces, and arenas for international dialogue,” Snøhetta said in a statement. Snøhetta released its masterplan for Paimio Sanatorium last week. The office worked with ALA Architects and Mustonen Architects on the first phase of the masterplan.
Renderings show the exterior of the clinic intact, albeit with a new entry on the rear facade, and improvements to the landscaping.
Among other changes, the former surgery wing will become a new flexible auditorium large enough for 200 people, with a new visitor’s entrance.
The auditorium will have birch-slatted walls evocative of past works by Aalto, optimal for acoustical performance.
The asphalted forecourt will be resurfaced with slate and have new plantings. A new spa in the lower-level will offer views of the forest.
The former patient wing of the sanatorium will be given over to hospitality: Patient rooms will become hotel rooms, and the famous sun balconies will be reopened.
New freestanding furniture in the new bathrooms that service the hotel rooms will be lined in birchwood veneering.
“With profound respect for the legacy of Aino and Alvar Aalto—and particularly the Paimio Sanatorium—we approach this project with the ambition of opening the site for thoughtful future use,” said Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, founding partner of Snøhetta. “Grounded in research, each intervention is carefully considered, preserving the building’s integrity while allowing it to evolve.”
The future of the fabled campus has been up in the air for some time now, as reported by AN. Juhani Pallasmaa and other prominent architects have vied for its conservation.
Mirkku Kullberg, the Paimio Foundation’s CEO, and Joseph Grima, its curator, convened in 2024 to discuss the hub, and what to do with it beyond healthcare.
Kullberg said the masterplan by Snøhetta is “a thoughtful balance between conservation and restorative architecture.”
The Paimio Sanatorium, along with several other Aalto-designed sites in Finland, could be added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in July 2026. A construction timeline for the reimagination of the sanatorium hasn’t been shared.