Chapter 2 | Alvar Aalto's Professional NetworksThe finalised group of buildings gave character to the landscape, a viewpoint that was
further enhanced by a landscape picture showing the main building as taller than
the surrounding woodland. The designer also explained how he had grouped different
functions into separate wings in the main building, accessed through communication
routes. The geographical orientation of the building had dictated the location of rooms.
A wing was mainly based on a side corridor, B on both a central and a side corridor
and C wing on a central corridor arrangement. Aalto stressed the significance of the
patient room design, with the external wall and window systems being of primary
importance. The orientation of the wing and the asymmetrical positioning of the
window allowed morning light to flood the room. The room was equipped with many
technological innovations, such as the ceiling radiator and the noiseless, specially man-
ufactured washbasins. The designer emphasised his consideration of the acoustic and
psychological impact of his room design. Here, Aalto did not discuss the furnishing of
the patient room The wards gave access to 24-bed sundecks and the roof terrace of 120
beds for the healthier patients. The large sundeck had plant containers with mountain
pines as the roof garden. The staff had also been provided with sunbathing canopies.
Fig. 2.8d. Aino Marsio-Aalto’s photograph on mounting Enso wallpaper was used in an
advertisement featured in the publication Varsinais-Suomen tuberkuloosiparantola.
Photo No. 50-003-345. AAM.