ArkMuoto highlights the importance of architecture and design in everyday life

The Architecture and Design Days, ArkMuoto, will be held this year for the sixth time. The nationwide event week runs from 2–8 February across Finland, highlighting the importance of architecture, design, and the built environment in everyday life. The program brings together hundreds of free events and culminates on 3 February, the Architecture and Design Flag Day, which celebrates the birthdays of Alvar Aalto as well as Finnish architecture and design.

The theme of ArkMuoto 2026 is Together. The theme reflects the collaborative nature at the heart of architecture and design: built environments, objects, and services are rarely created alone, but emerge through the interaction of multidisciplinary actors, users, and communities. It also highlights current issues such as limited resources, sustainable development, and social justice. The “Together” theme invites reflection on how architecture and design can serve as tools for fostering community, participation, and shared responsibility.

A diverse program for professionals and the public

The ArkMuoto week program features hundreds of free events organized by museums, educational institutions, municipalities, organizations, companies, and individual practitioners. Events include lectures, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, open houses, guided tours, and urban walks—both on-site and online.

Highlights from around Finland include:

Monday, 2 February – Layers, Images, and Urban Stories

Walking Tour | Graphic Concrete, 2–8 Feb 2026
Explore the built environment as a shared narrative, with layers created collaboratively by designers, users, and the city. Graphic Concrete reveals these layers through façades that carry images, meanings, and collective memories. Participants can explore the sites at their own pace using the GC Reference Map.

Tuesday, 3 February – Architecture and Design Flag Day

Alvar Aalto Birthday Celebration | Museum Centre Aalto2, Jyväskylä, 11:00–18:00
Celebrate Alvar Aalto’s birthday and Architecture and Design Day with free entry and a diverse program, including:

• Curator-led tour of the COLOR exhibition (13:00) with Jaana Oikari.
• Lecture-workshop (16:00–18:00) by restoration architect Susanna Anttila on Alvar Aalto’s design principles, architectural practice, and sketching exercises.

“Kädenjälkiä – Together” Seminar | Lahti Historical Museum & online, 12:30–16:30
This seminar explores sustainable design, circular economy, public art, and urban development from a collaborative perspective. Participants include experts, students, and citizens discussing sustainable business, circularity, and art in public transport. Activities include furniture life-cycle workshops and guided urban art walks. Read more in Finnish.

Wednesday, 4 February – New Perspectives on Design

Sustainable Design Talks | City Hall, Helsinki, 09:00–12:30
Organized by Ornamo, this event addresses current themes in design and sustainability. Presentations include the British Design Council’s Skills for Planet Blueprint, highlighting essential skills and tools for responsible design. The event is in English.

Virtual Guided Tour: To the Square! | Architecture & Design Museum, 17:00–17:30 (in Finnish)
Explore the winning and finalist entries of the new museum design competition via Facebook Live by Architecture and Design Museum.

Aalto x EMMA Talks: About Entrepreneurship and Creativity | EMMA, Espoo, 17:00–18:00 (in English)
Discussions on creative leadership, artpreneurship, and the intersection of design and business. Includes

• Creative Leadership & Artpreneurship
• Nokia Design Archive – how technology was designed to capture our hearts by Betsy Korhonen.

Thursday, 5 February – Future Design and Iconic Architecture

Regenerative Futures @ ARKI 135 | Circular Economy Hub, Helsinki, 16:00–17:30
Exhibition on biobased and regenerative materials, exploring sustainable design for the built environment.

Kauttua River Sauna | Kauttua, 13:00–18:00
Visit Finland’s only publicly accessible Alvar Aalto-designed sauna, offering architectural tours, Runeberg Day celebrations, and wellness experiences. Read more here.

Friday, 6 February – From Environment to Experience

Demolition Challenges – Local Perspectives & Shared Solutions | Museum Centre Vapriikki, Tampere, 13:00–16:00
Panel discussion on building demolition impacts, exploring alternatives and shared responsibility for the built environment.

Around the World in 80 Minutes | Palad Showroom, Kuopio, 18:00–19:30
A lively, zero-emission journey sharing global travel experiences.

Saturday, 7 February – Following Aalto’s Footsteps

Open House at Villa Skeppet | Tammisaari, 11:00–15:00
Explore Alvar Aalto’s architectural work and the personal connections behind Villa Skeppet.

Drawing Workshops at Alvar Aalto Studio | Helsinki, 10:00 & 12:00
Hands-on workshops inspired by Alvar, Aino, and Elissa Aalto, welcoming participants of all skill levels to explore modernist design through sketching. Read more here.

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Explore the full ArkMuoto week program.
The event is coordinated by Archinfo – Finnish Architecture Information Centre.

Photo: Villa Skeppet / Archinfo