Visiting Address
The Lauri and Lasse Reitz Foundation Museum
Apollonkatu 23 B 64, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
Telephone
+ 358 9 442 501
Email
museum
reitz.fi
Opening Hours
From Jan 2 to Jun 30: Wed and Sun 3 pm to 5 pm
From Aug 1 to Dec 31: Wed and Sun 3 pm to 5 pm
The museum is closed until further notice due to renovation work
History of the Reitz Family
Lauri Reitz (1893—1959) was born in Valkeala, in South-East Finland, to a railwayman’s family. The father’s trade caused the family to move often, but Lauri Reitz spent his school years in Helsinki. He graduated as a master builder from the “Industry School of Helsinki” in 1914. Lauri Reitz became an independent contractor in 1921. Soon after that he married Maria Lindholm (1891—1971). Lasse Reitz (1924—1966) was their only child.
In 1928 Lauri Reitz founded the Lauri Reitz Building Company, which he chaired until his death. He is best known as the contractor of several apartment buildings in the district of Töölö, Helsinki, dating from the 1920s to the 1940s. The museum is located in the building at the end of the block between the streets of Hesperiankatu and Apollonkatu, finished in 1938. Reitz’s most trusted architect was Jalmari Peltonen. Lauri Reitz and his family moved into the building in 1943. The apartment on Apollonkatu served as the family home until the death of Mrs Reitz, after which it was opened to the public as a museum.
Lauri, Maria and Lasse Reitz portrayed in the photo