On 9-10 October, 2019 the international seminar “HUMANISTIC MODERNISM” – Works by Alvar Aalto in the World Heritage context, will be held at Sibelius Hall in Lahti, Finland. Discussions will centre on whether Alvar Aalto’s architecture could be included on UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Alvar Aalto Foundation seeks the inclusion of Alvar Aalto’s architecture on the Tentative List of sites under consideration for the UNESCO World Heritage List. The international  seminar is part of this preparatory work and includes expert lectures and workshops. The event will bring together about 200 experts from Finland and around the world.

The event will concentrate on UNESCO World Heritage Sites from the viewpoint of modern architecture. So far the UNESCO World Heritage List includes two bodies of international modern architectural work: the buildings of French architect Le Corbusier and the American Frank Lloyd Wright. The role of Finnish modernism in the development of the international 20th century architecture could be highlighted in a natural way by a number of buildings designed by Alvar Aalto and his office.

Keynote speech of the first seminar day is Architect, Professor Robert McCarter´s lecture ”Alvar Aalto in the History of Architecture”.

The program includes also Studia Generalia lecture, which is ” Alvar Aalto´s Humanistic Worldview – Towards a Synthetic Architecture” by Architect, Professor Juhani Pallasmaa, on Wednesday 9 October at 18.00-18.45 at the Sibelius Hall.

More information of the seminar programme is available here.

The seminar promotes the implementation of the National World Heritage Strategy and provides publicity for both Finnish modern architecture and the UNESCO World Heritage. The event is being arranged by the Alvar Aalto Foundation and the City of Lahti in partnership with Docomomo (Committee for Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighbourhoods of the Modern Movement) and Icomos (International Council on Monuments and Sites).

Further information:
Alvar Aalto Foundation
Architect Jonas Malmberg
Tel. +358 40 567 5600
jonas.malmberg@alvaraalto.fi

Media requests:
Alvar Aalto Foundation
Communications Mirkka Vidgrén
Tel. +358 40 168 5142
mirkka.vidgren@alvaraalto.fi

“HUMANISTIC MODERNISM” – Works by Alvar Aalto in the World Heritage context
Seminar on Alvar Aalto and UNESCO World Heritage 9-10 October 2019, Lahti, Finland