The Pavilion presented at the Venice Architecture Biennale
13.08.2012
The Pavilion designed by Aalto University’s Wood Studio has attracted a lot of interest in Helsinki this summer and played an important role in the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012. The Pavilion will also feature prominently at the Venice Biennale from 29 August till 25 November 2012 in the New Forms in Wood exhibition to be housed in a unique pavilion designed by Alvar Aalto.
The opening exhibition of the newly restored Alvar Aalto pavilion in Venice will showcase the ways in which young Finnish architects are using wood in their latest work. The Pavilion is a prime example of this, highlighting the key role of wood technology innovations and research in the education of Finnish architects.
The architectural design of the Pavilion is based on an entry by student Pyry-Pekka Kantonen. Other Wood Studio students in the working group include Markus Heinonen, Marko Hämäläinen, Janne Kivelä, Wilhelm Kosonen and Inka Saini. The students will travel to Venice to present their project.
- The Venice Architecture Biennale is the most celebrated architectural event in Europe, explains Professor Pekka Heikkinen, the leader of the Wood Studio. The Venice Biennale was first organised in 1895.
Reopening of the unique exhibition building in Venice
The Finnish Pavilion, where the exhibition is located, in Venice was originally designed by Alvar Aalto as a portable exhibition facility in 1956.
The wood used as the building material of the pavilion was an unusual choice in the conditions of Venice, but over time, the pavilion that was meant as a temporary structure has become a permanent feature of the Biennale Park of La Giardini.
The pavilion designed by Alvar Aalto suffered serious damage in a storm last autumn. The accident prompted an in-depth examination of the building’s history and the construction techniques employed in it, also inspiring an exploration of how wood is used in modern Finnish architecture as part of the tradition of building with wood.
The result of this study was the New Forms in Wood exhibition organised by the Museum of Finnish Architecture that showcases Finnish wood design. In addition to the Pavilion designed by students at Aalto University, the exhibition includes the theatre and concert house Kliden designed by Ala Architects in Kristianstad, Norway, the seaside sauna created by Avanto Architects in Hernesaari, Helsinki and the Chapel of Silence by K2S Architects located in Kamppi, Helsinki.
The Pavilion and the New Forms in Wood exhibition are features in the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 programme. The Pavilion is part of Aalto University’s Living+ programme for the Design Capital year, which aims to develop better living environments.
The Pavilion will be open until 16 September Tuesday–Sunday from 11 till 21 at the address Ullanlinnankatu 2−4, Helsinki.
For more information, visit:
New Forms in Wood exhibition press release, the Finnish Museum of Architecture (mfa.fi)
The programme of the Pavilion (wdchelsinki2012.fi)
The Design Capital programme of Aalto University, visit Living+ (living.aalto.fi)
News item on the opening of the Pavilion on 7 May 2012 (aalto.fi)
