Alvar Aalto Week 2024 will take place in Alajärvi on 30.8–8.9.2024. The theme of this eighth edition is “Humanity, harmony and organic life”.
Alvar Aalto Week is an open, interactive, interdisciplinary urban event with something for people of all ages. The Week seeks to draw attention to the local cultural heritage and to inspire local residents and visitors to appreciate and to want to conserve that heritage.
“We can see Alvar Aalto’s handiwork around us on all the days of the year. Every year, many visitors come to Alajärvi from all over the world to admire these buildings from outside and in. I personally am amazed again and again by the way the light is reflected off the walls of Alajärvi Town Hall at different times of year,” says Vesa Koivunen, Mayor of Alajärvi.
The programme for this varied week of events includes concerts, exhibitions, workshops and lectures, all set in the midst of Aalto’s architecture. There are programme items for those who are more familiar with architect Alvar Aalto’s work, as well as for anyone who is discovering the Aaltos for the first time. The event week is organised in collaboration with local residents, companies and other actors. “At the same time, we want the Week to highlight Alajärvi’s and Alvar Aalto’s national and international cultural heritage for all our visitors,” Koivunen says, warmly welcoming everyone to enjoy Alvar Aalto Week.
Alajärvi offers a unique opportunity to explore the different stages of Alvar Aalto’s life and production spanning 70 years. Alajärvi, in South Ostrobothnia, is where Alvar Aalto spent his childhood summers and was the home region of his youth. Alajärvi’s beautiful scenery is the backdrop to a broad spectrum of Aalto’s production – from his earliest works to the last projects carried out by his architect’s office.
The signature of both of Aalto’s architect spouses can also be seen in these sites. Aalto’s first wife, Aino Aalto, designed the family’s summer residence, Villa Flora (1926), while Elissa Aalto was responsible for the design of the library building, and oversaw its completion in 1991, after Alvar Aalto’s death. There are a total of 11 Aalto sites in and around Alajärvi’s Administrative and Cultural Centre.
More about the programme for Alvar Aalto Week in Finnsh here.
The Week is organised by the City of Alajärvi and the numerous event organisers and partners. Alajärvi is a member of the international Network of Alvar Aalto Cities and is chair of the Network for 2024. Alvar Aalto Week is held annually in the Network’s chair city.
Further information:
Community Coordinator Tuomas Lahdenperä
Alajärvi City
+358 44 297 0271
tuomas.lahdenpera@alajarvi.fi
Communications Manager Mirkka Vidgrén
Alvar Aalto Foundation
+358 40 168 5142
mirkka.vidgren@alvaraalto.fi