Kela’s main office included on UNESCO World Heritage List
Kela’s main office, completed 70 years ago, is included in the Aalto Works series, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on 26 July.
UNESCO has decided to inscribe the Aalto Works series on the World Heritage List. Kela’s main office in Helsinki is included in Aalto Works; the building’s full name is the Social Insurance Institution Main Office.
“This is a great tribute to Finnish modern architecture. We are honoured that our main office is part of the Aalto series inscribed as a World Heritage site,” says Mervi Roiha-Muilu, Property Manager at Kela.
Kela’s main office is 70 years old this year and in urgent need of renovation. With the building now a Unesco site, Kela hopes that funding for a renovation will be allocated during the term of the next government. Renovation would ensure continued use of the main office for a long time to come and might also make it possible to open the building to visitors to some extent. The main office is not open to visitors at present.
The Aalto Works series now inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List consists of 13 buildings and ensembles representing modern architecture. In addition to Kela’s main office, the series includes the Aalto Atelier, Aalto Campus in Jyväskylä, the Aalto Centre in Seinäjoki, the Aalto House, Finlandia Hall, the Church of Three Crosses, the House of Culture, Muuratsalo Experimental House, Paimio Sanatorium, Sunila Housing Area, Säynätsalo Town Hall and Villa Mairea.