Alvar Aalto Library
Библиотека Алвара Аалто
Alvar Aalto's 1935 modernist masterpiece, famous in architectural circles for its wave-patterned wooden ceiling lecture hall and round skylights.
This library is one of Alvar Aalto's early functionalist masterpieces. It was completed in 1935 for the then-Finnish city of Viipuri and is renowned for its lecture hall with an undulating wooden-slat ceiling, the conical skylights of its reading hall, and its carefully designed natural lighting. It is regarded as a classic of modern architectural history. After World War II it was neglected for many years. Restoration was completed in 2013 through Russian-Finnish cooperation, and it still serves as the public library. Visiting the interior requires joining a guided tour, which carries a small fee and follows the library's arrangements, so check session times in advance. It is located in Torkkeli Park on the east side of the old town, a 5-minute walk from Red Square.
Opening hours
Tue–Sat 10:00–19:00; guided tours by session
Nearby sights
- Vyborg Old Town & Krepostnaya Street
- Transfiguration Cathedral
- Lutheran Church of St. Peter and Paul
- Hermitage-Vyborg Centre
- Round Tower & Market Square
- Clock Tower
- Old Cathedral Ruins
- Vyborg Castle