The bold and open-minded experimental wood designs of the Wood Studio will occupy the gallery of the Alvar Aalto Museum from August onwards. The Wood Studio is a course run by the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, in which students explore all opportunities in experimenting with the many aspects of Finnish wood.

A chair for the Luukku House. Satoshi Ohtaki. Photo: Maija Astikainen

In operation since 2000, the Wood Studio focuses on the versatile use of wood in design and interior architecture. The Wood Studio uses Finnish wood species in different forms – as solid wood, board, composite structures or recycled wood. From the start, the course has employed a hands-on approach. The projects produced in the school’s workshops are, almost without exception, implemented as prototypes on a 1:1 scale. Some of the works constitute material experiments, while others are projects implemented jointly with businesses in the wood industry. Samples from the Fiskars workshop, which
is organised each spring, will also be presented. All these projects display the Wood Studio‘s policy of encouraging experimentation, and “smelling and tasting” wood.

The exhibition to open in the gallery at the Alvar Aalto Museum will offer a selection of the Wood Studio projects from the time of its establishment to the present. During its 12 years of operation, the Wood Studio collections have amassed a sizable number of experimental wood designs: objects, light fittings, furniture, and elements for interiors. This exciting and pioneering exhibition will allow visitors to take a peek into these archives.

The exhibition will open on Saturday 11 August at the Alvar Aalto Museum in Jyväskylä, in conjunction with the 12th international Alvar Aalto Symposium, entitled “Crafted” – the Ingredients of Architecture”.

TOUCH WOOD!

Gallery, Alvar Aalto Museum, from 12 August to 14 October 2012

TOUCH WOOD press release 11.5.2012 (PDF)

More information:
Architect Karola Sahi, karola.sahi@aalto.fi, tel. +358 50 555 6142
Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Designer Mikko Paakkanen, mikko@paakkanen.fi, tel. +358 45 114 5145
Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture

More information and images:
Educational curator Mari Murtoniemi, mari.murtoniemi@alvaraalto.fi, tel. +358 400 254 708
Alvar Aalto Museum
Press images