Monastery & Brewery in Säynätsalo

The monastery and brewery reinvigorate Säynätsalo, Finland, by providing a dynamic and self-sustaining social, economic, and spiritual hub for the local community and monks, while also attracting visitors to the island in search of spiritual retreat. Nested among the spruce trees, the monastery makes its pres- ence known with its muted brown brick facade that contrasts with the rich red water-struck brick of Alvar Aalto’s Town Hall.