News

School of Business building staircase invited art competition

New artwork will be located in the newest building on campus.
Kauppakorkeakoulun kierreportaat Kuva: Roope Kiviranta / Aalto-yliopisto
Image: Roope Kiviranta / Aalto University

The invited art competition seeks to find exceptional and feasible proposals for artworks to be
situated in three staircase spaces at the School of Business building in Otaniemi, Espoo. Five artists and artist groups were invited to take part in the competition: IC 98, Pekka Paikkari, Riikka Puranen, Praneet Soi and Tatu Tuominen

'Art is an intrinsic part of our built environment at Aalto University. We encounter and experience art in diverse locations including indoor and outdoor public spaces, but also in more private spaces such as offices and meeting rooms,' sanoo Anna Valtonen, Aalto University's Vice President for Arts of Creative Practices.

Successful proposals will follow the art concept of the School of Business and the vision of public art at Aalto University. The competitors may suggest art works to either one or three staircases. Deadline for proposals is 30 April 2019 and the results of the competition will be published in May 2019.

Kauppakorkeakoulun kierreportaat Kuva: Roope Kiviranta / Aalto-yliopisto
The competition invites proposals for three staircases. Image: Roope Kiviranta / Aalto-yliopisto

Human approach

Public art at the School of Business aims to create an inclusive and dialogical experience and to create an open and low hierarchy working and learning environment. The art concept Human approach respects the past, still keeping an eye on the future. The art concept for School of Business was co-created by Aalto University’s Art Coordinator Outi Turpeinen with the students and staff of School of Business. 

The vision of public art at Aalto University

In 2017, Aalto University decided to comply with a one per cent art principle in its building projects. The art percent is a funding model for art purchases, where approximately one per cent of a building project's funds are allocated to art purchases. The one per cent art principle was first applied to Radical Nature art concept in Aalto University’s main building Dipoli.

The vision of public art at Aalto University is to address and raise questions about what it is to be a university, what we do together in society, and what constitutes the public. Public art is site-specific and connects with the diversity of the university and its post-disciplinary communities. Public artworks reflect this diversity through different art forms, materials, techniques and traditions.

More information
Outi Turpeinen
Aalto University, Art Coordinator
[email protected]
+358 50 4314194

More information on public art at Aalto University

School of Business building is a part of a larger building block, and it’s two other parts are Väre, the School of Arts, Design and Architecture’s new building and the shopping centre A Bloc. The block was designed by Verstas Architects, consisting of the alumni of Aalto University, which won the international architectural competition held 2012-2013. 189 proposals were entered in the competition. The main designer is Jussi Palva from Verstas Architects and the other main architects are Väinö NikkiläRiina PalvaIlkka Salminen and Mikko Rossi

  • Published:
  • Updated:

Read more news

Kampuksen uudet ulkokalusteet
Campus, Studies Published:

Vote for the best idea! How do we spend 14 000 euros on student wellbeing?

In autumn 2024, students were asked to come up with ideas on how the university should spend 14 000 euros to improve student wellbeing on campus. Now it's time to vote for the best idea to be implemented during spring 2025.
Otakaari 4
University Published:

Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering is the new name of the Department of Mechanical Engineering

The name change was confirmed as part of the update to the School of Engineering bylaws.
Tuomas Savolainen presenting telescope research
University Published:

Tuomas Savolainen: In astronomical research we often navigate in uncharted waters

'As a researcher, you must constantly tolerate uncertainty. You also have to remember that there would be no point in researching if we were always sure of everything. And first, you always have to convince yourself.'
A lit motorway crossing the sea, with buildings and sky visible
Cooperation, Press releases, Research & Art, University Published:

Finland is strongly investing in AI and establishing an ELLIS Institute to accelerate research and attract talent

Public and private sector investment are coming together to launch ELLIS Institute Finland.