AALTO LIBRARY'S TURF ROOF

The library wing of the main building in 1960. Photographer: Ensio Pulli. Collections of the University of Jyväskylä Science Museum.
The library wing of the main building in 1960. Photographer: Ensio Pulli. Collections of the University of Jyväskylä Science Museum.

The main building (Building C), designed by Alvar Aalto, was completed in 1955, as was the library wing of the main building with its turf roof. The turf roof, originally sown with sheep fescue (Festuca ovina), created a connection with the surrounding nature and the Seminary Park. The roof can be seen as a predecessor to the current green roofs, and Aalto used turf roofs in several locations, especially as a coating for saunas and various canopies he designed.

In later years, flowering natural vegetation has spread on the roof, and meadow plants have also been sown and planted there. However, the roof is still quite dominated by hay, but it is also home to meadow buttercups (Ranunculus acris), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), maiden pink (Dianthus deltoides), various hawkweeds (Hieracium spp.) and white clover (Trifolium repens).