Aalto’s iconic silo in Oulu to be transformed into cultural space ahead of 2026 event

In the Toppila district of Oulu, Finland, a notable concrete landmark is emerging among rental apartment buildings and student housing. This structure, a young work by renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, has been underappreciated locally, yet it attracts architecture enthusiasts from around the world. In 2009, it was even voted Oulu’s ugliest building. Despite being protected, some anticipated its demolition, and in 2020, the building was auctioned off by the city, but no buyers were found in Finland.

Eventually, the Spanish Factum Foundation, dedicated to preserving Aalto’s legacy, and the London-based architectural firm Skene Catling de la Peña acquired the protected wood chip silo and its surrounding land for just over €6,000. The new owners aim to transform the silo into an event space exceeding 500 square meters. Valentino Tignanelli, project manager for the Aalto Silo Association, believes the restoration will grant the building another century of life. He notes it may also inspire the renovation of other old industrial buildings in Finland.

Interior renovation work is set to commence this autumn, with a budget of €100,000 allocated for initial operations, while an additional €200,000 is needed to open the ground floor in time for Oulu’s designation as the European Capital of Culture in 2026. Plans include creating a multipurpose space, laboratories for sustainable construction methods, and showcasing the silo’s historical significance. Aalto’s original designs, which began with the Toppila cellulose factory in the late 1920s, laid the groundwork for modern concrete architecture in Finland.