In 1951, the Architects’ Association of Catalonia invited Alvar Aalto to give a series of lectures in Madrid and Barcelona. During his time there, he sketched the landscapes of inland Spain and developed an interest in vernacular culture. His influence is still evident today.

To commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of this historic visit and the recent incorporation of thirteen buildings by Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto onto the UNESCO World Heritage List, the exhibition Alvar Aalto and Spanish Contemporary Architecture demonstrates how the excellence of Aalto’s buildings in terms of construction, form and space has been assimilated and interpreted in one of the most distant European countries from Finland.

The exhibition is divided into three sections. The first section presents documentary materials related to the architect’s travels to Spain. The second features a selection of works by the latest generations of Spanish architects, presented through models, photographs, and drawings, in which the influence of Aaltian principles and thought can be discerned. The third section shows projects located in Finland and designed by Spanish-based architects or firms, highlighting the ongoing mutual influence between the two cultures.

The exhibition entry is free of charge.