Evergreen – always timeless and fresh – aptly defines Alvar Aalto’s architecture and design. But what currently is topical in Alvar Aalto research? What are people talking about and what phenomena are only now emerging? This spring’s international (Ever)green Alvar Aalto Researchers’ Network Seminar brings together a large number of top researchers in the field as well as a global virtual audience. The virtual presentations will be broadcast from Pori, Finland.

“Celebrating its fortieth anniversary, the unique Pori Art Museum was chosen as the venue for the presentations, not only because of its magnificent setting but also because of the Maire Gullichsen Art Foundation’s exhibition. The achievements of the collaboration between the Aaltos and the Gullichsens are certainly familiar to everyone and the Pori Art Museum, founded thanks to Maire Gullichsen, has over the past four decades enriched Finland’s contemporary art exhibition field”, states Jyri Träskelin, Head of the Cultural Unit at the City of Pori.

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The (Ever)green Alvar Aalto Researchers’ Network Seminar will be held on 6–7 May 2021 as a two-day virtual event. The three main themes of the English-language event are: SUSTAINABILITY – the sustainable design principles in Alvar Aalto’s architecture; REFLECTIONS – reflections and impacts of Aalto’s works in the global field of architecture; and RESTORATION and REUSE – the principles of sustainable development in the renovation and reuse of Aalto’s buildings.

The seminar’s keynote speakers on Thursday, May 6, will be architectural history research professionals architect Antonello Alici Ph.D from Ancona, Italy and architect Gunny Harboe FAIA from Chicago, USA. The keynote speakers on Friday, May 7, are award-winning renovation and restoration professionals from Finland architect Tapani Mustonen SAFA and architect Teemu Tuomi SAFA. In addition to the keynote speakers, the two days of the seminar will also include 30 presentations from around the world. The presentations given in English (Note: no simultaneous translations) will interest not only professionals and students in the field of architecture, but also anyone interested in Alvar Aalto’s works and Aalto research. Also a richly illustrated seminar publication (in English) will be published in print form as well as a digital version.

The international Alvar Aalto Researchers’ Network Seminar is organized jointly by the Alvar Aalto Academy, the City of Pori, and other partners.

The updated seminar programme and the list of presenters have now been published on the seminar website. More information regarding, for instance, the presenters, topics, and additional programme will be updated during the spring. Remember to join the Alvar Aalto Researchers’ Network Facebook group for related discussion.

(Ever)green Alvar Aalto Researchers’ Network Seminar
Time / Location: Virtual event, 6–7 May 2021. See the instructions for participation on the seminar website.
Price: Early bird tickets (à 30 €) on sale until  31 March 2021, after which the ticket price is 50 € via the seminar’s online store, also at the website: www.alvaraalto.fi/researchersnetworkseminar

For more information:
Nina Heikkonen, Programme Manager, Alvar Aalto Foundation
nina.heikkonen@alvaraalto.fi
tel. +358 44 500 1257

Aila Svenskberg, Communicatios, Editor, Alvar Aalto Foundation
aila.svenskberg@alvaraalto.fi
tel. +358 40 659 1930