The Alvar Aalto Symposium gathers together top names in contemporary architecture. This year’s international figures include American architect Greg Lynn, one of the Symposium’s keynote speakers. In line with the theme of the event – DO! – speakers will be rolling up their sleeves and personally opening up about what architects and urban planners really do. The symposium will be held on 7–9 August 2015 in Jyväskylä, Finland.

Along with Greg Lynn, a number of other world-renowned architects will take the podium. These include India’s Rahul Mehrotra, known for his ethical, human-driven projects, Henriette Vamberg of Denmark’s Gehl Architects, a master of urban design that puts the focus on creating cities for people, and one of the event’s moderators, David Basulto, editor of ArchDaily, who created one of the most successful and wide reaching web based architectural media of this time.

The symposium’s theme challenges the speakers and participants to examine architecture from the perspective of doing. The aim is to shed light on how architects envision what they do and how the process is shaped by the approach that they take to their work. Processes of doing will be explored through digital, local, material and social perspectives.

Anssi Lassila, Director and Founder of OOPEAA Office for Peripheral Architecture, is the Chair of this year’s event. Through the selected theme and invited speakers, Lassila will open a discussion about the terms of doing architecture.

“Over the years, the Alvar Aalto Symposium has taken on an important role as a catalyst for critical international debate on contemporary architecture,” says Alvar Aalto Foundation Director Tommi Lindh.

“This year’s theme and programme do not leave room for superficial presentations of projects but rather encourage the speakers to tell us what architects actually do to advance their projects. During the Symposium, we will grapple with how we do things and how this process impacts the surrounding world structurally, sociologically and economically,” adds Lassila.

Now held for the 13th time, the Alvar Aalto Symposium has earned its place as a significant international discussion forum for contemporary architecture. The triennial event brings together hundreds of architecture and design professionals from around the world.

The Alvar Aalto Foundation produces the event in partnership with the Museum of Finnish Architecture, Architecture Information Centre Finland and the City of Jyväskylä.

For more information on the Alvar Aalto Symposium, please visit the website at
www.alvaraaltosymposium.fi

More information:
Producer Tomi Summanen
Alvar Aalto Foundation
symposium(a)alvaraalto.fi
tel. +358 44 555 7337

Symposium media enquiries and interview requests:
Communications Officer Annukka Pakarinen
Alvar Aalto Foundation
annukka.pakarinen(a)alvaraalto.fi
tel. +358 50 381 0143

Accreditation:
press(a)alvaraalto.fi