Architecture in Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi suffered badly in World War II, as approximately 90 percent of buildings in the town centre were destroyed in 1944. The rebuilding process started quickly after the tragedy. Rovaniemi is proud to have several major features designed by Alvar Aalto, one of Finland’s foremost architects. Aalto’s genius vision was to build the town to be the shape of a reindeer’s head.

Another central figure in Rovaniemi architecture is Aalto’s contemporary Ferdinand Salokangas, who designed several administrative buildings and housing in town. The best known are Rovaniemi Fire Station and the Town Hall of Rovaniemi Market Town (pictured) that has since been refurbished into Arctic Light Hotel.

Besides housing the Regional Museum of Lapland and Arctic Science Centre, Arktikum is one of Rovaniemi’s most recognizable buildings. Opened to the public on December 6th, 1992 to mark the 75th anniversary of Finland’s independence, Arktikum was designed by Danish architect group Birch-Bonderup & Thorup-Waade. The building’s iconic glass tube represents the frozen finger of the north, the direction it points in.

One of the few buildings in Rovaniemi not destroyed in World War II was the post bus depot built in 1933. Having served multiple purposes over the decades, the depot was converted into Rovaniemi Art Museum in 1986, and later remodelled to Korundi House of Culture. Korundi was designed by architect Juhani Pallasmaa and is home to Rovaniemi Art Museum and Lapland Chamber Orchestra.

Owned and operated by Metsähallitus, the Finnish Administration of Forests, Science Centre Pilke is entirely built of wood. The building represents Metsähallitus’ environmental policies and 90 percent of materials used come from inside Finland. Designed by wood building specialists APRT architectural studio and opened for the public in 2011, key guidelines for the building were set by sustainability, natural light and the surrounding hill and river landscapes.

If there is one landmark Rovaniemi is known for, it’s the Jätkänkynttilä Bridge. Opened for traffic in 1989, the 320-metre bridge connects Ounasvaara to the town centre. Jätkänkynttilä takes its name and shape from a type of torch carved from wood by lumberjacks, a common trade in 20th century Rovaniemi.