Läntinen Pitkäkatu 20, Residential complex in Turku, Finland.
Läntinen Pitkäkatu 20 is a three-story residential building in Turku with horizontal bands of windows and a mixed-use layout combining street-level commercial spaces with residential units above. Inside are several retail shops and many apartments of various sizes designed to accommodate different household needs.
The building was completed in 1928 and was Alvar Aalto's first major project employing prefabricated concrete elements on a large scale. This construction method was groundbreaking and influenced residential architecture across Finland in the decades that followed.
The residential complex influenced urban living standards in Finland by introducing modern architectural elements while maintaining classical design features on its facade.
The building is centrally located in Turku and easily accessible on foot, with shops and services directly accessible at street level. The surroundings offer open spaces for exploration, and the location provides convenient access to the rest of the city.
During the housing shortages of the 1940s and 1950s, residents received special permits allowing them to sublet their apartments to others. This exception reflected how critical the building was in addressing housing problems during the post-war period.
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