October 9–10, 2024
The Spirit of Paimio conference at Paimio Sanatorium returns for a second edition with the theme Reimagining Community.
The Spirit of Paimio conference will be organised for a second time on October 9–10, 2024, focusing on a topical theme: Reimagining Community. Exploring how Alvar and Aino Aalto’s principles around design and togetherness can inspire and reshape modern societies, the event will feature a host of globally renowned speakers, including Bjarke Ingels, founder of the Danish architecture office BIG, and Beatriz Colomina, author and Professor of the History of Architecture at Princeton University. The conference seeks to extend beyond traditional architectural discourse, addressing how technology, science and design can collaboratively enhance the human experience and societal well-being.
At the heart of this year’s event is the concept of togetherness, deeply rooted in the work of Alvar and Aino Aalto and their iconic masterpiece from 1933, the Paimio Sanatorium. As the starting point of this year’s programme, curator Joseph Grima and Mirkku Kullberg, CEO of the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation, have chosen the theme Reimagining Community focusing on the original spirit behind the Aaltos’ design: created as an advanced medical facility for tuberculosis patients, the sanatorium has evolved to represent much more—it stands as a manifesto for an architecture of empathy, care and human dignity.
Participants of the conference reflect a diverse array of expertise and perspectives:
Beatriz Colomina is a renowned architectural historian and theorist, and a professor at Princeton University.
Bjarke Ingels is a renowned Danish architect and the founder of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), known for his innovative and sustainable designs.
Carlo Ratti is an influential Italian architect, engineer, and director of the Senseable City Lab at MIT.
Dan Hill is a prominent designer, urbanist, and educator, currently the Director of Melbourne School of Design.
Ersilia Vaudo is an astrophysicist and Chief Diversity Officer at the European Space Agency (ESA).
Ferninando Verderi is a NY based Italian creative director responsible for some of the most radical fashion imagery of the past half decade known for his continued partnership with Prada and Vogue Italia.
George Massoud is an architect, educator and cultural worker. He is director at Material Cultures, a design and research practice based in London.
Kieran Long is a British journalist, curator, and museum director, currently managing Amos Rex, internationally acclaimed art museum in Helsinki.
Loreta Castro Reguera is a Mexican architect and urbanist specializing in water management and resilient urban design, and co-founder of Taller Capital.
Marco Steinberg is a Finnish architect and strategic designer, founder of Snowcone & Haystack, specializing in design-driven innovation and public sector transformation.
Nicolay Boyadjiev is an architect, educator, and researcher in the intersection of architecture, technology, and urbanism. He currently serves as lead for Practice Lab, a philanthropic initiative by re:arc.
Octave Perrault is a visionary entrepreneur and the founder of Zeroth, a leading company in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Oliver Jahn is thought-leading design and culture journalist, consultant and curator with extensive career at Conde Nast.
Spencer Bailey is an acclaimed writer, editor, and co-founder of the media company The Slowdown.
Studio Swine (Super Wide Interdisciplinary New Explorers) is an artistic collaboration between Alexander Groves and Azusa Murakami. The studio combines art, design, and filmmaking to create works that explore the future of resources, craft, and sustainability.
Yoko Choy is the China editor at Wallpaper* magazine and seasoned design journalist whose work has been featured in numerous Chinese and international publications.
Joseph Grima is the Curator of Paimio Sanatorium, founder of the Milan-based design research studio Space Caviar, Creative Director of Design Academy Eindhoven, and partner at Alcova, a platform for forward-looking design during Milan Design Week.
Mirkku Kullberg CEO of Paimio Sanatorium and Founder of Glasshouse Helsinki, is a cross-disciplinary thinker on business and cultural phenomena.
More information here. Tickets here. For further enquiries: spiritofpaimio [at] paimiosanatorium.com.
*Images above: (1) Paimio Sanatorium, designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto in 1929 and completed in 1933 as a tuberculosis hospital, is a global landmark of functionalist architecture. (2) A staircase at Paimio Sanatorium, showcasing the functionalist design and attention to detail by Alvar and Aino Aalto.
