Seinäjoki Civil Guard House
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Seinäjoki White Guard House
60100 Seinäjoki
| Seinäjoki Civil Guard House | |
|---|---|
Seinäjoen Suojeluskuntatalo Sydösterbottens skyddskårshus | |
 Seinäjoki Civil Guard House pictured in 2012 | |
 Interactive map of the Seinäjoki Civil Guard House area | |
| Alternative names | Seinäjoki Defence Corps Building, Seinäjoki White Guard House |
| General information | |
| Type | Public |
| Architectural style | Nordic Classicism |
| Location | Seinäjoki, Finland, Kauppakatu 17 60100 Seinäjoki |
| Coordinates | 62°47′20″N 22°50′14″E / 62.788977°N 22.837313°E |
| Current tenants | Suojeluskunta & Lotta Svärd Museum |
| Completed | 1926 |
| Owner | City of Seinäjoki |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Masonry, timber |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Alvar Aalto |
The Seinäjoki Civil Guard House (Finnish: Seinäjoen Suojeluskuntatalo; Swedish: Sydösterbottens skyddskårshus) is a building located in Seinäjoki, Finland. It is notable for being one of the first public buildings designed entirely by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, and is considered one of his breakthrough works.[1]
The building was designed by Aalto in 1924–1926,[2] to serve as the headquarters of the South Ostrobothnia division of the Finnish Civil Guard (aka. White Guard, or Defence Corps) voluntary militia and the related Lotta Svärd women's auxiliary organisation.[2]
After the end of World War II (or Continuation War, in the Finnish context), the Civil Guard and Lotta Svärd organisations were disbanded as stipulated in the peace treaty with the Soviet Union, and the building was leased to a youth cultural organisation (Nuorisoseuraliike), with other tenants over time including a school.[3]
Since 1990, the building has been home to the Suojeluskunta & Lotta Svärd Museum, as part of the City of Seinäjoki museum network.[2][3]
