Alvar Aalto, Paimio Sanatorium, Paimio 1928-33. 'It was the white, clean-lined Paimio Sanatorium, built in 1930–33, that not only brought Aalto international recognition, but also first put Finland on the international map of modern architecture. Renamed in 1971 as the Paimio Hospital, Aalto’s masterpiece of Functionalism is currently, in accordance with the World Heritage Convention, on the Finnish World Heritage Tentative List. The functional shapes and structural solutions of the Paimio Sanatorium, located on a large woodland site some 30 km (18 miles) east of Turku, have inspired and influenced generations of architects all over the world and still annually attract thousands of Aalto enthusiasts — laymen and professionals alike — from all corners of the globe. On arriving at Aalto’s sanatorium, they will be astonished to enter a well-maintained hospital which has been in continuous use as a medical facility since its foundation and where patients are attended to in a light, spacious environment... Aalto’s winning design... at a remarkably early age of thirty features harmonious integration with nature and his attention to the human side of architecture, but also shows his growing interest in standardisation. As an innovative and radical man with a social conscience, Aalto brought to his design a profound concern for the diverse physical and psychological needs of patients with tuberculosis. Considerable emphasis was laid upon the peacefulness of the environment, hygiene and user comfort as well as humane, sustainable solutions.' Paimion kaupunki  Photographer www.moritzbernoully.com. Flickr