Making a positive
family mark beyond
everyday business

Riihimäki Glassworks In 1910, the duo of A. Kohlemianen and his son, A. P. Kolehmainen, joined forces with industrial entrepreneur H. G. Paloheimo to establish Riihimäki glassworks. Initially crafting simple household glassware, the enterprise quickly evolved, venturing into refined household glassware and crystal glass by 1911. Breaking new ground, Riihimäki became the pioneer among Finnish ... Read more

Patron of the Arts Professor Maire Gullichsen (née Ahlström) made significant contributions to the promotion of Finnish visual arts, design, and architecture. She was a visionary and a driving force behind several key institutions: the design shop Artek, the Free Art School, the Modern Arts Association, and Galerie Artek. Each of these organizations played a ... Read more

Tyra Borg - The Artist In 1890, at the age of 18, Tyra Ahlström started studies at the drawing school of the Finnish Art Society at Ateneum. In 1893, Axel Gallén became Tyra's art teacher (later, Akseli Gallen-Kallela). The artist was already part of the Ahlström's circle of friends. He was a famillar sight at ... Read more

The Ahlström Collection & Rafael Ahlström (1877–1918) Rafael was the family’s second-oldest son. He was active in the family business and served as procurator and manager at the Noormarkku plant and the company’s second director and board member. Despite his dedication to the family business, Tyra describes Rafael in her memoirs to be more interested ... Read more

Tapio Wirkkala & A-studio Tapio Wirkkala's glass design career began when he won the Karhula-Iittala glass design competition in 1946. The following year, Iittala recognized his talents and hired Wirkkala as a full-time designer, thrusting his glass designs into the limelight at several exhibitions. His great breakthrough occurred at the LX Milan Triennale in 1951, ... Read more

Iittala glassworks In 1881, Peter Magnus Abrahamsson established a glassworks in Iittala and started the tale of evolution unfolding as Iittala evolved from an independent entity to a pivotal player in the glass industry. In 1917 the Iittala Glassworks changed ownership, becoming part of the A. Ahlstrom Corporation, which at that time was already the ... Read more

Karhula Glassworks Established in the year 1889, the start of the Karhula Glassworks can be credited to William Ruth (1839-1913), who had previously acquired the Karhula steam Sawmill in 1881. The glassworks became the property of A. Ahlstrom Corporation in 1915 with the acquisition of Karhula Oy. Initially specializing in the production of bottles and ... Read more

Sakari Siltala Richesse oblige – At the origins of Ahlström's social responsibility Richesse oblige, wealth obliges. Before the emergence of the Finnish welfare society in the 1960s, if there were any considerations of societal responsibility in the country, they were borne by affluent individuals, families, clans, and companies. The most far-sighted owners saw societal responsibility ... Read more

Shelters and the Eva Ahlström Hospital "The shelter will be built on the Noormarkku factory grounds, in a spot I have pointed out to my wife and children. It is to have its own doctor, with funds being of no concern." (Excerpt from Antti Ahlström's will / Norrmén 19271) As early as the 1870s, Antti ... Read more

Schools and Public Education Public education was important to both Antti and Eva Ahlstrom, and they founded several elementary schools in Western Finland. After Antti Ahlstrom's death, the company continued to support public education in several factory estates throughout Finland. The Noormarkku works got its elementary school in 1875. Another company-operated elementary school was opened ... Read more

Noormarkku Church At the turn of the 1930s, A. Ahlstrom Corporation and the Ahlstrom family were prepared to fund a new church for Noormarkku. The parish had long contemplated constructing a new church to replace the one destroyed in the 1918 Civil War. However, the parish lacked the means to embark on such an expensive ... Read more

Brass Horns, Sports and Associations The Ahlström Corporation and the Ahlstrom family supported several recreational and cultural projects and associations in the Noormarkku area. The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare's Noormarkku section, founded in 1924, received significant support over the decades in developing its operation. The company supported the League-operated daycare that ran in the ... Read more

The Eva Hospital The story of Noormarkku Hospital, illustrates not only the evolution of healthcare in the region but also the profound impact of the Ahlström family on local well-being. It all began with Eva Ahlström's generous donation, commemorating her 60th birthday, which kickstarted the construction of the hospital in 1908. Designed by the renowned ... Read more

14 South Esplanade The history of the building, located on the Eteläesplanadi, dates back to the Civil War, which interrupted the Ahlström company’s operations in Noormarkku in the spring of 1918. The head office was temporarily relocated to Helsinki, where two properties were purchased for this purpose, Kasarmikatu 48 for office space and a house ... Read more

Pääkonttori - Headquarter A. Ahlström Osakeyhtiö initiated the design of a new headquarters amidst uncertain times in 1912. Architect Emil Fabritius, who had designed the Noormarkku power plant a couple of years earlier, drew up the plans. While working at the Jung & Fabritius office, he was solely responsible for the headquarters. The symmetrical two-story ... Read more

Isotalo After purchasing Noormarkku Works, Antti Ahlström wanted to build a home for his family and an office for his business in Noormarkku. As early as 1873, Anti Ahlström had inquired about the drawings of the main building of Noormarkku Manor from State agronomist Henry Gibson and county architect Heideken. However, none of their plans ... Read more

Havulinna Eva, the widow of Antti Ahlström, aimed to anchor the Ahlström family permanently in Noormarkku. She commissioned the construction of Havulinna for her son Walter Ahlström and his wife Lilli, making it the next main building after Isotalo in Noormarkku. The plans were ordered in 1899 from the architectural firm Grahn, Hedman & Wasastjerna, ... Read more

Villa Mairea The most internationally famous building in the area is Villa Mairea, which was completed in the autumn of 1939, shortly before the start of the Winter War. The building was meant to be the residence of Maire and Harry Gullichsen. The progressive and open-minded couple were interested in the pure expression of modernism. ... Read more

Ahlström Archive: A Historic Repository of Finnish Industrial Heritage Sheltered within the A. Ahlström Oy's main office in Noormarkku, the Ahlström Archive is a significant repository preserving over a century of Ahlström’s industrial history. Established in 1915, this archive holds a wealth of documents dating back to the earliest days of the Ahlström family business, ... Read more

Makkarakoski Sawmill museum Converted into a museum in 2014, this sawmill stands as a testament to over 200 years of industrial heritage. Step into the past as you explore the evolution of sawmill technology, from its origins powered by hydropower, to the era of steam, and finally, the advent of electricity. What makes the Makkarakoski ... Read more

Patron of the Arts Professor Maire Gullichsen (née Ahlström) made significant contributions to the promotion of Finnish visual arts, design, and architecture. She was a visionary and a driving force behind several key institutions: the design shop Artek, the Free Art School, the Modern Arts Association, and Galerie Artek. Each of these organizations played a ... Read more

Tyra Borg - The Artist In 1890, at the age of 18, Tyra Ahlström started studies at the drawing school of the Finnish Art Society at Ateneum. In 1893, Axel Gallén became Tyra's art teacher (later, Akseli Gallen-Kallela). The artist was already part of the Ahlström's circle of friends. He was a famillar sight at ... Read more

The past and present of the Noormarkku Works, Ahlström family and Ahlström companies. The Ahlström Voyage exhibition in the old workshop provides an interesting look at the history and present of the Ahlström companies, the family and the Noormarkku Works over a period of more than 170 years. The company’s story is a significant part ... Read more

Noormarkku Club House Noormarkku Club House celebrates its 100-year journey Noormarkku Club House in the Ahlström Works in Pori turned 100 years old on April 19, 2024. The birthday program included an invitational event, the opening of an exhibition, and a celebratory dinner. The Club has served as a meeting place for people for several ... Read more

Lebell Merchant House In the atmospheric Lebell Merchant House, visitors can explore stylistic interiors from the 18th and 19th centuries, which are an important part of Kristinestad's history. Original details are preserved in the house, providing the museum with an authentic atmosphere along with furniture, utensils, and decorations. Located in Kristinestad's unique wooden house environment ... Read more