3.5 The Standardised Patient Room
T
his section discusses the architectural design of the most typical patient room,
the twin room: its spatial and related technical systems, fixtures, furniture and
equipment. The patient rooms were to have 25 cubic metres for each patient.
The patients required a sufficient amount of fresh air to breathe in order to foster the
best possible conditions for recovery.^815
Aalto’s office placed the furniture purchases for the sanatorium into four catego-
ries.^816 The first category included fixtures to be designed by the architectural practice.
The only built-in furniture in the patient room was the table to be installed in front of
the window. Loose furniture was divided into two categories, those designed by the
architectural office and those purchased as ready-made standard items. The suppliers
of the latter would be required to provide samples for appraisal.This category included
iron beds and sofas, sundeck recliners, wardrobes, nightstands and certain tables. The
fourth category was the chairs, which were also classified as standard furniture. Offers
for medical equipment and other related special furniture would be received by the
consulting medical advisor and, if necessary, he could refer the designs to the architect
for an opinion.^817 The sanatorium furniture acquisitions became topical in April 1932
and the Building Board authorised the Building Committee to purchase the beds and
other furnishings for the sanatorium.^818
3.5.1 THE METAMORPHOSIS OF THE WARDROBE
In the earliest of the architect’s sketches, the patient room wardrobes were made of metal.
The common features in the four-leg metal wardrobes were the slanted top-part of the
wardrobe and the rounded corners. Otherwise, the design was basically rectangular. The
right angle between the side panel of the wardrobe and the wall was stabilised with an
angle iron and the shelves rested on angle irons.^819 In the next stage, the wardrobe material
had been changed to plywood with a batten frame. The corner battens were rounded to
create softly curving edges to the wardrobe. The plywood panels were straight and the
shelves were supported by tubular profiles. This as well as the previous version was drawn
by Lars Wiklund.^820
815 The Programme for the Architectural Competition of the Tuberculosis Sanatorium of Southwest Finland. Var-
sinais-Suomen tuberkuloosiparantolan rakennuslautakunta (The Building Board for the Tuberculosis Sanatorium
of Southwest Finland) 1928a.
816 An acquisition plan of furniture created by Alvar Aalto’s architectural practice. Building Committee April 10, 1932,
Section 2. PSA.
817 An acquisition plan of furniture created by Alvar Aalto’s architectural practice. Building Committee April 10, 1932,
Section 2. PSA.
818 Building Board April 10, 1932, Section 3. PSA.
819 Drawing No. 50-276. AAM.
820 Drawing No. 50-266. AAM.