Nearly a century old, Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall has provided a place for taking a break from the busyness of everyday life for generations. Even those who have never visited the hall have heard about it.
The history of Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall includes a tradition of nudity, presidential visits and many other stories. Here, we have compiled events and milestones along the swimming hall’s journey to the present day.
Architecture
Designed by Väinö Vähäkallio and completed in 1928, Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall is the first and oldest public swimming hall in Finland. The building represents 1920s’ neoclassicism, the first prevalent architectural style in independent Finland. The same style can be seen in buildings such as the Parliament House, completed in 1931.
Vähäkallio was inspired by Stockholm’s Centralbadet, as well as Central European and ancient spas. The founding members of Uimahalli Oy, who were in charge of construction, communicated actively with the manager of Centralbadet through letter correspondence during construction.
Although the swimming pool has undergone some structural changes over the decades, the facade and pool areas in particular have remained nearly unchanged. When you visit Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall, you step into another era, in which antiquity, the 20th century and the present day merge into a magnificent whole.
A tradition of nudity
People have been swimming and washing naked in Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall since its opening. The exact origin of this ‘tradition of nudity’ is difficult to ascertain, but in old newspaper clippings, the practice was justified on hygiene grounds. Throughout their cultural history, Finnish people have been comfortable with nudity in the context of getting washed, which contributed to the decision to prohibit the use of swimwear.
Swimwear was not allowed in the hall until 2001. In 2022, it was estimated that around half of the customers prefer to swim in the nude. This tradition will not be prohibited, as it is an integral part of the hall’s identity.
Presidents and legends
Legend has it that Marshal Mannerheim used to visit Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall on Wednesdays at 16.00. On the second floor is the Marski Suite, where Mannerheim probably enjoyed the sauna over other leisure time activities, as during a renovation carried out in 2022–2025, sauna tiles were found in the structures of the room. It is suspected that the room was not named after Mannerheim until sometime after his death, but this has not been confirmed.
In Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall, you may also hear people talk about the arrest of the fifth President of Finland, Risto Ryti. According to Helsingin Sanomat, the President was seized and transported from the swimming hall for the Helsinki war crimes trials, but the police let him go home one more time to eat and change his clothes. Ryti also had his own booth in the hall.
A venue for sports
The large 25-metre pool of Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall was suitable for competitive swimming and was one of the main reasons for building the hall. The most significant sporting achievement took place on the eve of May Day 1931, when Toivo Reingoldt broke the world record in the 500-metre breaststroke race. He was the first Finn to set a world record in their sport.
Timeline
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1926 – The hall project starts
Bank manager and sports influencer Toivo Aro is the driving force behind the project, the aim of which is to promote swimming skills and competitive sports in Finland. The original plan was to build a cinema on the plot, but Aro got his way.
Uimahalli Oy is established towards the end of the year. The Board consists of members such as Toivo Aro, architect Väinö Vähäkallio and contractor Jalo N. Syvähuoko. -
1927 – Construction begins, a fire causes a delay
The wooden Balder House is demolished. Construction starts early in the year, but in August, a fire breaks out and destroys the roof of the tennis hall under construction. The construction work is delayed.
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1928 – The swimming hall opens
Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall is opened on 4 June 1928, on Toivo Aro’s name day. In its first years, the six-floor hall features two swimming pools, a diving platform, a restaurant named UI-MA-RA, a dance school, a tennis hall, a hairdressing salon and a physical therapy centre named Horus. The restaurant also has its own saxophone orchestra.
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1930s – The years of economic depression
The economic depression puts a strain on additional services. Horus closes, the women’s washrooms are expanded. Alcohol prohibition has a negative impact on restaurant operations.
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1939–1945 – A time of war
The hall is mainly used by women and children. Sauna baths are important, as households have no hot water. During the Winter War, a task force against poison gas attacks operates in the building.
The restaurant closes in 1943. -
1954 – SVUL becomes the owner
Uimahalli Oy is unable to meet its financial obligations and the property is sold to SVUL (Finnish Central Sports Federation, operated 1906–1994).
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1967 – The City of Helsinki buys the hall
The services are simplified, but the swimming hall activities continue.
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1989 – A fire in the tennis hall
A fire necessitates extensive repairs in the tennis hall and roof structures.
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1998–2001 – An extensive renovation
The building is restored to its original appearance. Steam saunas are added.
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2001 – Swimwear becomes allowed
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2003–2023 – Cafe Yrjö
Café-restaurant Cafe Yrjö opens on the 2nd floor of the swimming hall in 2003. Over the years, Cafe Yrjö becomes a key part of the swimming hall’s services. The friendly service of the staff and the table service in the rest cabins are highly praised. Over time, the ‘sima’ mead made with Cafe Yrjö's own secret recipe gains the status of a classic.
Cafe Yrjö will continue to serve the swimming hall customers for more than 20 years until the renovation starting in 2024, when the entrepreneur behind Cafe Yrjö retired. -
2024 – A renovation project begins
A major renovation project starts with the aim of preserving the historic appearance of the hall and improving functionality
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2025 – The building receives the SR-1 conservation designation
The conservation designation means that the building is of special value in terms of architecture, history or the cityscape and must not be demolished or altered.
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2026 – The swimming hall opens after renovation
The renovated swimming hall opens in February. The renovation has improved accessibility, upgraded the building services technology and made the hall more environmentally friendly. The most visible overhauls are improvements to the lifeguard control room and the cash desk lobby.
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2028 – Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall turns 100.
Photos from the history of Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall
Sources:
Building History Report, Architectural Office Ark-byroo Oy, 21 Oct 2021
Building History Survey and Inventory, Hilkka Högström, 8 Aug 1997
Mens sana in corpore sano: Space, Time and Nudity at Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall, Master’s thesis in Art History, Hanna Hannus, 2014
Helsingin Sanomat archives
Helsinki City Museum