The House and studio of Emil Wikström

Visavuori was the home and studio of sculptor Emil Wikström from 1894 until his death in 1942. Wikström designed the buildings himself, beginning in 1894 with a combined studio and home. Destroyed by fire in 1896 and rebuilt in 1902 in the national romantic style, this building is the finest example of Karelian architecture in existence. Wikström's home is typical of Nordic artists’ homes of the time, constructed from logs and featuring many ”art nouveau” details. The contents of the house today are as they were in Wikström's time.

The castle-like studio with its observatory and winter garden was built in two phases between 1903-1912. In the studio almost 100 of Wikström's works are displayed. Visitors can also see how the artist and his family spent their leisure time: playing the organ built by his brother, taking care of the roses in the winter garden or exploring the stars in his own observatory.

Downstairs in the studio, what was once Wikström's bronze foundry, is a café open during summer months, serving a wide variety of homemade refreshments.

The Visavuori foundation was established in 1966. Wikström's children donated all the works of art and the buildings to the foundation and the Visavuori-museum was opened to the public in 1967. The founding members of the foundation were the City of Valkeakoski, Sääksmäki village, City of Toijala and Yhtyneet Paperitehtaat Co. Today the main sponsors are; the City of Valkeakoski, the City of Toijala and UPM-Kymmene Ltd.