Chapter 3 | The Building of Paimio Sanatoriumfor that year.^620 The Building Board took out loans from both private lending institutions
and the state.^621 The interest rate varied between 7.0 and 8.5 percent.
The project was scheduled for completion in 1932. The increasing costs and the diffi-
culty in raising the necessary funds were major factors delaying the project. The Building
Board attempted to find reasons for the increasing costs and delays in the building sched-
ule. In the view of the Building Board, the most cost-effective method was to carry out
the work as sub-contracts. In this way, the developer would benefit from the price decrease
in materials and labour during an economic decline.^622 In May 1931, the Building Board
entertained the possibility of carrying out the building work so slowly that no loans would
be necessary. However, it decided against this strategy, as leaving a half-finished building to
the mercy of the changing elements of the seasons would make this approach uneconom-
ical, even if the loss of interest and the fact the sick were not receiving the treatment they
needed were left out of the equation. The Building Board wanted to bring the project to a
conclusion systematically and at a brisk pace.^623 According to a report written by Aalto in
1931, the financial situation of the building project was in line with the plan.^624 In October
1931, Aalto again reported on the progress of construction to the Building Board. Bank
Manager Paavo Saarinen expressed displeasure that the budget had been exceeded, as the
general price level had declined by approximately 20 percent since the project began. How-
ever, he conceded the fact that some of the increased expenses were due to exceeded quality
specifications. Farmer Juho Pilppula pointed out that the budget was likely to be exceeded
by another million marks because the waste water treatment plant would cost more than
had been planned. The Building Board discussed the budget and, ultimately, whether it
would have been less expensive to contract the project out as a whole. Aalto responded
that cost estimates could never be absolute, and that the figures were always approximate.
Furthermore, the State Medical Board had added to its requirements in the course of the
building projects. Medical advisor Markus Sukkinen noted that the cost estimate in the
620 Building Board May 23, 1931, Section 3. PSA.
621 Insurance Company Tarmo, Länsi-Suomen Osuuspankki (Southwestern Finland Cooperative Bank), Ministry of
Finance, the State Treasury, Bank of Finland, Central Bank of Savings Bank and the Suomen Raakasokeritehdas
sugar manufacturers granted loans for the project. Building Board minutes 1928–1933. PSA.
622 Application of the Building Board for a loan on May 23, 1931. Documents related to the Paimio Sanatorium project. AAM.
623 Ibidem.
624 Excavation, drainage, foundations, the concrete frame, external masonry, heat insulation, floor insulation, major road
works, forest clearing and main waterline had been carried out on site at the sanatorium. Partially complete or in prog-
ress were internal walls, the waterproofing of the roof, other insulation work, water, sewage and heating pipes, iron and
wooden windows, concrete surface treatment, the machinery for the bakery, upper leaf sound insulation and iron struc-
tures on façades. The completed or confirmed orders, the delivery or installation of which was still pending, included
all electrical works, lifts, some of the machinery, awnings, sun screens, the telephone, paging and signalling equipment,
some of the stair coverings and floor covering in the sun balconies. Aalto also pointed out that external rendering was
in the early stages and that the internal walls and the sound insulation work was 50 percent complete. In terms of pip-
ing, the main pipes and some of the risers were installed. Of the residential and auxiliary buildings, the staff dwellings
progressed in parallel with the sanatorium while the power and heating plant were all but complete. The foundations for
physicians’ dwellings, the funeral chapel and car garage were being laid and the brickwork was scheduled to begin on
July 1. Aalto commented, with regard to the progress and costs on June 1, 1931, that the costs had at that point exceeded
the estimate by 1.2 percent. The project had experienced setbacks excavating foundations as the rock profile differed
to that indicated by the soil testing map. The construction of two kilometres of drainage running into a nearby river had
also proved more expensive than anticipated. On the other hand, many of the works had been completed under the
original budget. Aalto’s account of the construction work June 15, 1931. Record 1245. State Medical Board 1931 Ea:34. NA.