16th Alvar Aalto Symposium in Jyväskylä, August 22–23. has received lots of positive feedback. Top program and participants from 45 countries! If you didn’t make it earlier, don’t worry – you can watch the performances now as recordings until 31 October 2024 with a low-cost tickets (40€/students 10€) and buy the tickets here.

The 16th Alvar Aalto Symposium – Weight of Architecture offers new great perspectives on contemporary architecture, including today’s burning global problems and their possible solutions. The performers are domestic and international top names in the field. Including e.g. 15. Alvar Aalto medallist Belgian architect Marie-José Van Hee, introduced by designer Sam De Vocht, Pritzker Prize winner architect Yvonne Farrell, top climate expert John Schellnhuber, interior architect Hilda Rantanen, ALA Architects, Studio Puisto, SAFA and Archinfo discussions and much more. Read more about the programme and speakers here.

Watch the presentations online on mobile or from your own computer (note: all presentations are in English. You can see the speakers’ detailed introductions on the web page). More than 20 international performers and three themes: environment, resources and architecture.

PROGRAMME

ENVIRONMENT:
Yvonne Farrell, Grafton Architects “The Weight of Architecture”

John Schellnhuber, Director General, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) “Rebalancing the Weights of Civilization and Nature”

Juho Grönholm, Antti Nousjoki and Samuli Woolston, ALA Architects
“Beautiful Responses”

Barnabas Calder, Head of the History of Architecture Research Cluster, University of Liverpool
“Form follows fuel”

Architecture talk on “The Weight of Architecture in politics and economics” by the Finnish Association of Architects SAFA; Helena Mattsson, Professor in History and Theory, KTH School of Architecture Stockholm, architect Leena Rossi, Director of Urban Planning and land use of the City of Jyväskylä; architect Samuli Woolston, ALA Architects, moderated by Asko Takala, architect SAFA.

Award ceremony of the 15th Alvar Aalto medallist, Belgian architect Marie-José Van Hee, introduced by designer Sam De Vocht.

RESOURCES
Hilda Rantanen, CEO, Materialisting “Building with Insight: Choosing the Right Materials for a Sustainable Future with Data and Innovation”

David Benjamin, Associate Professor at Columbia GSAPP “Scaling Up”

Ehab Sayed, Founder, Chief Evolution Officer, Biohm “A Biomimetic Future”

ARCHITECTURE
Helena Mattsson, Professor in History and Theory, KTH School of Architecture
“How is Architecture Political? Notes on Spatial Solidarity”

Emma Johansson and Willem van Bolderen, Studio Puisto “Reflections on Our Journey: Evolution in Sustainable Hospitality Design”

Architecture Talk “Exhibiting care and repair” by Archinfo, features Matti Jänkälä and Ella Kaira, curators of the Finnish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2025; and Kaisa Karvinen, curator at the Museum of Finnish Architecture, the discussion is moderated by Miina Jutila, Head of communications at Archinfo.

The Alvar Aalto Symposium is an international discussion forum on contemporary architecture held every three years in Jyväskylä and organized by the Alvar Aalto Academy. The Alvar Aalto Academy, which focuses on continuing education in the renovation and preservation of modern architecture as well as seminar events, is part of the Alvar Aalto Foundation. The Alvar Aalto Symposium’s main partner is the City of Jyväskylä. Collaborative partners also include Aalto University and the Cumulus Network, Archinfo, the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Design Museum, the Finnish Architects’ Association SAFA and Habitare Pro.

For more information on the symposium programme and how to buy tickets, click here.

Contacts:
Nina Heikkonen,
Programme Manager
Alvar Aalto Foundation
+358 44 500 1257
nina.heikkonen@alvaraalto.fi

Aila Svenskberg
Event Communications, Editor
Alvar Aalto Foundation
+358 40 659 1930
aila.svenskberg@alvaraalto.fi

Marie-José Van Hee and Sam De Vocht. Photo Crispijn Van Sas.