Enzo-Gutzeit Head Office

 

Enzo-Gutzeit  Head Office. Alvar Aalto, 1962.

This white marble building is situated at the heart of Helsinki in Katajanokka.  

Enzo-Gutzeit (Nowdays Stora Enso) is a Finnish Forest Industry Company, operating worlwide and still staying in this building in Helsinki.

Alvar Aalto wanted to create something resembling a Venetian palazzo with white marble glittering on the sea nearby. For this purpose he chose Carrara marble for the edifice material – and used it again about ten years later in the Finlandia House. 

Carrara marble is not suitable for Finnish climate and it has been replaced with some other type of marble after 2001.

Aalto's building has been criticized from the beginning. Enso Gutzeit office replaced a classical building from the year 1897.

 

 A Corner without corner.

 

 

 Flag post  in the spirit of ships.