Idyllic surroundings
Stay in Sunila
Welcome to an unforgettable stay in Sunila, Kotka. In our flats you will find the elegance of the historical architecture designed by Alvar Aalto combined with Finnish design. There are three unique accommodation options - "Aino", "Eero" and "Alvar" - with different interior styles and modern comforts.
Our flats in Sunila, Kotka
To the flats
You can experience living in the functional buildings designed by Aalto for yourself. The spirit of Alvar and Aino Aalto is still evident today in the fusion of timeless aesthetics, the embedding of the buildings in nature and their functionality. A study visit or simply a holiday - anything is possible.
Accommodation
You can book the flats "Aino" and "Eero", each with one bedroom and living room and a floor area of 45 m2, in the terrace house "Päivölä" or the one-room flat "Alvar" with a floor area of 30 m2 on the top floor of the apartment block "Kivelä". All flats are specially furnished with a predominantly Finnish design. This also includes the crockery and cutlery in the flats and the linen provided. For architecture and design enthusiasts, literature is available in all three flats to familiarise yourself with the work of Alvar and Aino Aalto and Finnish design. All flats have WLAN and television.
The kitchens are equipped with coffee machines (filters and capsules), water boilers, microwaves, toasters, pans and everything else you need.
Location
Sunila is located next to the town of Kotka, about 130 kilometres east of Helsinki, directly on the shores of the Baltic Sea. The car journey from Helsinki Airport or Helsinki-Vantaa takes about 1.5 hours. By bus, the journey from Helsinki bus station takes about 2 hours.
Experience unique architecture and design
The cellulose factory and Sunila housing estate designed by Alvar and Aino Aalto in the 1930s is a world-famous architectural monument and the largest project realised by the famous architect couple. The functional buildings are perfectly integrated into the natural surroundings with old pine trees and form an ideal setting for the combination with Finnish design.
Now you have the wonderful opportunity not only to visit this combination, but also to stay overnight or live there temporarily and be inspired. Enjoy the unique living experience in an icon of modernity. If you would like to delve deeper into the subject, we have provided the relevant literature for you.
What is special about our flats?
In the "Aino" flat you can immerse yourself in the 1930s with lots of design by Alvar and Aino Aalto and in the "Eero" flat you live in world-famous Finnish design from the 1950s and 1960s. The "Alvar" flat has many original cupboards from the construction period and predominantly Aalto design. All flats are quiet, harmonious, inspiring...and beautiful! They are furnished with great attention to detail and high quality and offer everything for a pleasant stay.
The nearby residential neighbourhood
The Sunila housing estate, which originally belonged to the factory, comprises around 350 residential units ranging from the director's 400 m2 villa (now the Kantola Museum) to terraced houses for engineers and foremen and apartment blocks with different flat sizes from 120 m2 four-room flats to small 18 m2 one-room flats. Probably the best-known buildings on the estate are the two terraced houses "Päivölä" and "Karhu".
Today, the flats are owned by private individuals who are organised into several condominium owners' associations. The Pro Sunila association has been working for more than 20 years to preserve and enhance the neighbourhood and its surroundings.
The beautiful surroundings offer opportunities for long walks in the woods and there is a wonderful sandy beach on the Baltic Sea nearby. Sunila also offers sports facilities with outdoor weight training facilities, a new finned track and a large gravel sports field. In winter, there is a short cross-country ski trail and an ice rink.
The impressive Sunila cellulose factory is expected to close at the end of 2023. Its future is still unclear, but there are various plans that have not yet been made public.
Sunila – a pioneer of modernity
The residential area of Sunila is a pearl and a masterpiece of Finnish architecture and urban planning by architect Alvar Aalto. Sunila was mainly built between 1936 and 1939. It includes the cellulose factory located on the island of Pyötinen with the large residential area. Sunila became the largest overall project realized according to Aalto's plans.
There are about 350 apartments in the Sunila settlement. The settlement, a so-called forest settlement, is very spacious and park-like, so that nature and architecture merge.
All houses have a name. If you come from Karhula, the first terrace houses in the northern part of the area are Karhu and Päivölä. These are followed by Kontio, Kivelä and Harjula, then Mäntylä, Honkala, Kuusela, Juurela and Runkola, the Mäkelä terraced houses and finally the southernmost terraced houses Rantala, over 200 square meters in size, directly on the shore of the Baltic Sea. Within the sight of Rantala is the Villa Kantola of the former factory manager Lauri Kanto, which currently serves as a museum, conference and event space. Kantola also has a beach sauna for rent.
Each group of houses is unique and getting to know the details is also interesting for people who are less familiar with architecture.
There are also some commercial buildings in the area, such as the former heating center, garages and the so-called Aalto Maja (Aallon Maja), the former laundry and sauna building.
Shortly before the terraced houses the road turns to Sunila Pirtti. Pirtti with its sports facilities and banquet hall belongs to Sunilan Sisu. Also an interesting destination for Aalto fans; The renovation was carried out according to the Aaltos' plans.
What can you do in Sunila?
As already said, Sunila is a residential community. But not an ordinary one.
Sunila's most interesting sight is of course the architecture. You can get to know the settlement on an outdoor tour, either on your own or with a guided tour (http://www.kotkaguides.fi). You can delve deeper into architecture and design in the apartments, including by reading the literature available in the apartments.
Kantola, the representative apartment of the former factory manager Lauri Kanto, is a beautiful building with a facade renovated in 2022 between tall, old pine trees. The house can normally be visited. Even if the house is booked, a visit to the in-house park is worth it. Further information and opening times can be found at www.sunilankantola.fi www.sunilankantola.fi
Sunila's renovated, approx. 2 km long, illuminated running track, which opened in summer 2023, and the small outdoor fitness studio on Sunila's sports field can also be used free of charge.
A sandy beach just a stone's throw away!
Äijänniemi Beach, lined with old, beautiful pine trees, is located in Suulisniemi directly on the Baltic Sea. From Sunila it takes 4-5 minutes by car or bike, or about 20 minutes on foot. A trip to the beach is worthwhile all year round.
Where to go to eat and shop?
When Sunila was thriving a few decades ago, there were various shops and services in the area. The small service providers gradually closed down after the large shopping centres were built. However, the Metsäkulma K-Shop has survived. Here you can buy everything you need for your daily needs.
However, the closest place to go for lunch is right in the middle of Sunila. Korttelikoti Alvariska serves very reasonably priced home-cooked lunches from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Mon-Fri, also available to take away.
Karhula and Kotka have other pubs and restaurants. It is 11.5 km from Sunila to the centre of Kotka, and takes about 15 minutes to drive from Sunila to the centre of Kotka.
What about public transport?
It is a 3 km walk from Karhula bus station to Sunila. The taxi rank is right next to the bus station. From Karhula bus station there are several local bus lines to Sunila. Bus no. 1 Kotka-Hamina stops at Rauhala School (approx. 2.3 km). Buses 5B and 25T run along Ratakatu-Sunilantie and bus 6 runs along Hallantie from the Metsäkulma side. However, the intervals between the bus trips are quite long!