The 6th International Alvar Aalto Researchers´ Network Seminar titled “Reinterpretation” will be held at the Aalto2 Museum Centre in Jyväskylä as well as online virtually on 6–7 May 2026. The seminar will feature topical and inspiring talks around Aalto research, addressing the themes on the reinterpretation of architecture. The seminar’s keynote speakers are William J.R. Curtis, Henriette Steiner, and Scott Wall.

Alvar Aalto Researchers’ Network Seminar theme “Reinterpretation” invites bold thinking and fresh interpretations, exploring architecture, the environment, and people – not only by honouring the past, but also by envisioning the future. In the seminar presentations researchers and professionals from diverse fields explore how Alvar Aalto’s architecture and legacy, as well as broader themes within modern architecture and the built environment, are being rethought, recontextualized, and reimagined today.

Through three subthemes – Concepts, Buildings and People – the seminar provides a platform for multidisciplinary dialogue. The discussions will span evolving terminologies, the re-evaluation of buildings in light of new functions and sustainability challenges, as well as renewed biographical approaches to the people behind the designs.

The “Concepts” theme will be opened by the main keynote speaker, architectural historian, critic and photographer William J.R. Curtis. The “Buildings” theme will be opened by Professor Henriette Steiner from the Section for Landscape Architecture and Planning and Society at the University of Copenhagen. The “People” theme will be opened by Scott Wall, architect, author and Professor at School of Architecture University of Tennessee. In total, the programme features 40 unique presentations from around the world. Discover the programme of Alvar Aalto Research Seminar, “Reinterpretation” and join the conversation in which insights emerge from intersecting perspectives, and where posing new questions is more important than possessing ready-made answers!

There are a limited number of tickets available for the seminar, so please book your place on site at the Aalto2 Museum Centre from the ticket shop. Virtual participants must also register.

The event will include two architectural excursions to unique Aalto sites. The day before the seminar, Tuesday 5 May, we will explore a masterpiece of modern architecture, Säynätsalo Town Hall (1949–52). The excursion includes bus transport (Jyväskylä-Säynätsalo-Jyväskylä), dinner and a guided tour of the site. On Wednesday 6 May, participants will have the opportunity to take a closer look at the charming campus area of the University of Jyväskylä (1952–1971) on a guided tour. Both the Säynätsalo Town Hall and the Jyväskylä University Campus, together with eleven other Aalto sites, have been nominated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Purchase tickets and book places for the excursions here.

The English-language seminar organized by the Alvar Aalto Academy is open to anyone interested in the seminar topic. The main partner of the event is the City of Jyväskylä.

The Alvar Aalto Researchers’ Network Seminar is an international, multidisciplinary event that brings together researchers, experts, and professionals in architecture, design, art, and cultural history from around the world. The seminar aims to promote scholarly discussion on Alvar Aalto’s life’s work, design philosophy, and influence, as well as on modern architecture and its research more broadly. The seminar also offers an opportunity for networking and discussion among experts in different fields.

The Alvar Aalto Reasearchers´ Network serves as a discussion channel and builder of connections between international Alvar Aalto researchers. Through the network, topics of interest to Aalto research are bought to the fore. The Alvar Aalto Academy, which is part of the Alvar Aalto Foundation, is responsible for organising the network´s events.

The seminar location, Aalto2 Museum Centre, is a meeting place for architecture, design and cultural heritage. It consists of two buildings by Aalto – the Alvar Aalto Museum (1971–73, 2023) and the Museum of Central Finland (1956–61, 1991, 2019) – together with a new extension designed by A-Konsultit (2023).

6th Alvar Aalto Researchers´ Seminar – Reinterpretation
Date: 6–7 May 2026
Place: Aalto2, Alvar Aallon katu 7, Jyväskylä

Further information:
academy@alvaraalto.fi

Nina Heikkonen
Alvar Aalto Academy
+358 44 500 1257
nina.heikkonen@alvaraalto.fi