The museum building originally operated as a Mallasjuoma brewery, established in 1912.
The Poster Museum collection housed within Malva is the largest of its kind in Finland.
The museum architecture retains original industrial features, including visible concrete structures and high ceilings from the old brewery.
The collection includes over 70,000 posters documenting the evolution of global graphic design.
Malva was designed by the Finnish architecture firm Sweco Architects, focusing on adaptive reuse of heritage buildings.
Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva is located in the renovated Mallasjuoma brewery building, blending industrial heritage with modern art exhibition spaces. The museum houses the extensive collections of the Lahti Art Museum and the Poster Museum. Its core identity revolves around the intersection of international poster art, graphic design, and contemporary visual arts. The facility features a large-scale exhibition hall converted from a former beer fermentation silo. Malva emphasizes interactive and participatory art experiences alongside its rotating permanent and temporary exhibits. The museum serves as a hub for Finnish design culture, specifically focusing on the evolution of print media and visual communication.
The dramatic, multi-level atrium staircase that connects the industrial levels of the former brewery.
Check the museum's digital calendar for guided tour themes as they change frequently with exhibition rotations.
Visit the museum shop to see a curated selection of Finnish graphic design posters and contemporary prints.
Combine your visit with a walk around the adjacent Mallas-area cultural district.
Do not overlook the smaller side galleries, as they often contain experimental digital media installations that are easily missed.
Closed on Mondays.
Photography is generally permitted for personal use, but flash and tripods are prohibited in exhibition halls.
