Paimio Sanatorium Aims to Become an International Hub for Wellbeing

The masterplan outlining the future of the Paimio Sanatorium has been completed. The plan has been developed by the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation in collaboration with the internationally renowned Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta. The masterplan sets the direction for one of the most significant architectural landmarks of the 20th century and its future use.

The guiding principle of the plan is the same idea that informed the work of Alvar and Aino Aalto: that the primary purpose of architecture is to promote human wellbeing.

Snøhetta has approached the assignment with exceptional sensitivity and understanding. From the outset, the design team recognised that Paimio Sanatorium cannot be viewed merely as a building, but as a total work of art – a Gesamtkunstwerk – in which architectural beauty and form, technological innovation, and the everyday life of its users form an inseparable whole. This is not a single design solution, but a broad understanding of the social significance of developing Paimio Sanatorium also in the future.

The masterplan extends its perspective beyond the building itself, situating the significance of Paimio Sanatorium within an international context. The aim is to develop the site into a European meeting place for culture, wellbeing, and design, where society and the future can be explored through openness and humanistic values.

The plan envisions the sanatorium as an international complex combining accommodation, wellbeing services, cultural activities, and events. The former surgical ward is intended to be transformed into flexible conference and event spaces, while the patient wings will be converted into accommodation facilities. The iconic sun balconies will be reopened, and a spa complex is planned for the lower level, with direct access to the surrounding forest. These interventions continue the original Aalto vision of light, air, forest, and nature as essential elements of human wellbeing, while respecting the building’s protected status.

According to Snøhetta founding architect Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, the goal has been to honour the legacy of Alvar and Aino Aalto while finding a new use for the building that opens it up to a wider audience. He notes that the plan preserves the integrity of the building while allowing Paimio Sanatorium to evolve and respond to the needs of a new era.

The first phase of the masterplan has been developed in collaboration with ALA Architects and Arkkitehdit Mustonen Oy. Evergreen Capital has acted as advisor in developing international hospitality operations and feasibility studies for the project.

The renovation and development work will now continue in cooperation with the Finnish Heritage Agency and the Alvar Aalto Foundation. The project is expected to strengthen Paimio’s position as an international destination for cultural and wellbeing tourism.

Paimio Sanatorium is also part of the Aalto Works serial nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status and is considered one of its key sites. A decision on the World Heritage designation is expected at the end of July 2026. Possible inscription would further strengthen Paimio Sanatorium’s position as an internationally significant landmark of architecture and cultural heritage.

Photo: Snøhetta