The International Alvar Aalto Meeting on Modern Architecture will be held for the fourth time this summer in Jyväskylä. The theme of the 2011 event will be high-rise construction. The subject will be approached through lectures, project presentations, discussions, an exhibition and a planning workshop. The purpose is to pull together the current knowledge of vertical construction from around the world and envisage future developments in the field. The thematic categories are tower buildings as an output of the construction process, the relationship between high-rises and the urban environment, and R&D in architecture.

The invited speakers include some of the world’s top names in architecture. Patrik Schumacher is the architect Zaha Hadid’s key associate. Reinier de Graaf is a partner at the OMA architects’ office and the director of AMO, the office’s think tank. Anne Stenros is the design director of Kone Corporation. Steffen Lehmann is a leading international figure in sustainable architecture. Panu Lehtovuori is one of the top international names in urban studies. Eva Castro is a young star in British topological and parametric architecture. Zhiqiang Wu is the head designer of Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China.

In addition to the keynote speakers, the event presents 18 projects and papers dealing with specific topics in high-rise construction from 11 countries. The event includes an exhibition presenting the results of the planning workshop aimed at developing the Otaniemi area in Espoo.

The chairman of the event is the architect Antti Ahlava from the helsinkizurich architectural consultancy and the Aalto University. The event is produced by the Alvar Aalto Academy.

For more information, see:

www.alvaraalto.fi/conferences/2011/

www.facebook.com/AlvarAaltoMeetingOnModernArchitecture

Chairman Antti Ahlava: ahlava@helsinkizurich.com

Director of the Alvar Aalto Academy Esa Laaksonen: esa.laaksonen@alvaraalto.fi

Press images: tomi.summanen@alvaraalto.fi

Secretariat:

Tomi Summanen, tomi.summanen@alvaraalto.fi

Merja Vainio, merja.h.vainio@alvaraalto.fi