Design Treasures in the City 

Design treasures on a map

Located in the beautiful center of Helsinki, the Stockmann Department Store offers a wide selection of inspiring, quality products from top fashion, cosmetics, Finnish design, souvenirs, home products and groceries as well as cafés and restaurants - all under the same roof. 

Visit the Visitor Center on the 8th for advice and help on tax free issues and receive a Visitor Discount voucher. The voucher entitles you to a 10 % discount off all regular priced purchases on one day of your choice.

Stockmann is also located at Itis shopping centre, Ainoa shopping centre in Tapiola in Espoo and Jumbo shopping centre in Vantaa.

1. Stockmann Department Store

The  Helsinki City Hall was designed by C.L. Engel as a hotel in 1833 and the building has been the City Hall since the 1930s. The Helsinki coat-of-arms can be seen on the tympanum. With the exception of the facade, the building was completely rebuilt in 1967-1970 designed by the architect Aarno Ruusuvuori.

2. Helsinki City Hall

The functionalist Vaakuna building, completed in 1952 is situated in the center of the city, next to the Central Railway Station.

3. Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna Helsinki

The first public building in Helsinki designed by Alvar Aalto. Aalto won the wartime bid in 1941 organised by the City of Helsinki to design the entrance to the bomb shelter below the Erottaja hill. Aalto's original plan was left unrealised due to the war, and a temporary construction was erected on the location. 

The pavilion found there now was built in 1951. Alvar Aalto wanted to reshape his design after winning the bid, as the execution was postponed with several years. The new traffic arrangements proposed by Aalto were not done, and his contribution was left to include the above-ground construction and the staircase.

The Pavilion is nowadays used as a entrance to a parking hall below ground level.

4. Erottaja pavilion

Finlandia Hall is a unique centre for domestic and international conferences, concerts and other events. It is a popular architectural sight in Helsinki and one of the most beautiful places to visit in the city. Finlandia Hall is one of the most iconic buildings designed by world-renowned Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto, and was planned from the ground up for visitors and a wide range of events. 

If not attending an event, the building can be visited by attending a guided tour open to public, please see webpages for dates. 

A café, FINLANDIA CAFÉ, is open to public as well as a gallery, both situated on the Töölönlahti bay side.

5. Finlandia Hall

Aino and Alvar Aalto designed for themselves a cosy, intimate building (compelted in 1936) for living and working in, using simple uncluttered materials.

6. The Aalto House

Aalto University School of Business is the leading business school in Finland and ranks among the best in Europe.

7. Aalto University School of Business

Alvar Aalto's Helsinki

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The design city of Helsinki contains a hidden trove of creative wonders in public spaces that can be visited free of charge.  ...