Aerola, Modernist residential complex in Vantaa, Finland
Aerola is a residential complex made up of two identical two-story terraced houses containing 40 apartments of varying sizes in Vantaa. Each dwelling has its own entrance and the buildings share facilities including a sauna, laundry room, and heating center.
The complex was built between 1953 and 1955 as housing for employees of Aero Oy, an aircraft manufacturer located near Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. This company later became what is now known as Finnair.
The complex reflects Alvar Aalto's design approach through functional spaces carefully adapted to the sloped site. This residential model shaped how people in Finland thought about modern apartment living during the mid-20th century.
The complex is arranged in an L-shaped layout with apartments accessible through individual entrances distributed across the buildings. Garages are positioned at the building ends and visitors should be prepared for the sloped terrain throughout the property.
Each apartment has its own private courtyard entrance, giving the complex a relaxed village-like character despite its modern design approach. The interiors are protected by law to ensure the original fixtures and finishes of the apartments are preserved.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
