Architecture + Sustainability Series, FinnFest 2025
Curated by Ahti Westphal, Adjunct Professor, University of Minnesota, and Principal of AHTI — Studio for Integrated Design, Landscape, & Planning
This cross-disciplinary series positions regenerative architecture, circular construction, and forest-based innovation at the forefront of global design practice. Drawing from the cultural traditions and material economies of Finland and the United States, it examines how bio-based systems, policy, and place-based knowledge can shape a just and climate-resilient future.
Presented as part of FinnFest USA 2025, the series takes place from July 31 to August 1 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), and features architects, researchers, and industry leaders working across public space, ecological restoration, and material innovation.
Thursday, July 31
Sauna Seminar
Reimagining the Smoke Sauna: Tradition, Craft, and Contemporary Design
Architect Marko Huttunen of Livady Architects explores the savusauna (smoke sauna)—one of Finland’s most iconic building traditions—through contemporary work and historical restorations. This seminar reveals how sacred thermal spaces embody cultural values and sustainable construction rooted in craft.
Friday, August 1
9:00–10:00 AM
Northern Alliances: Finland–Minnesota Leadership in Forest Innovation
Two forest nations. One shared future.
A panel of forestry and innovation leaders from Finland and Minnesota examines the future of forest-based industries. Topics include regenerative forest stewardship, mass timber, the global bioeconomy, and cross-border policy frameworks for climate resilience.
10:00–10:30 AM
ALA Architects – Shaping Public Space in Finland
Oodi Library – A National Statement in Wood, Light, and Democracy
A screening on the internationally acclaimed Helsinki Central Library Oodi by ALA Architects, highlighting its role in civic identity, public access, and architectural innovation.
10:30–11:00 AM
ALA Architects – Kuopio City Theater & Dipoli
Designing the Future by Honoring the Past
A short film double feature showcasing ALA’s adaptive reuse of the Kuopio City Theater and Dipoli at Aalto University—projects that transform heritage sites into vibrant public space.
3:00–4:00 PM
Keynote – Zero Arctic: Building a Sustainable Future with Lessons from the Past
Carbon‑Neutral Construction Rooted in Tradition
Marko Huttunen presents new research from Zero Arctic, a Nordic collaboration exploring how Indigenous and vernacular architecture inform carbon-neutral design in Arctic and sub-Arctic climates. Funded by the Arctic Council, the project offers compelling insights into traditional timber techniques and place-based ecological knowledge.
Panelists & Presenters Include:
- Marko Huttunen – Livady Architects
- ALA Architects (film screenings produced by the Museum of Finnish Architecture)
- Tuuli Luoranen – Jartek Invest Oy
- John Rajala – Minnesota Forest Resource Council, Rajala Companies
- Dr. Rolf Weberg – Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI)
- Jon Heyesen – Arbor Wood Co.
- Commissioner Ida Rukavina – Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB)
This series is designed to inspire faculty, students, and design professionals across architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, and allied fields in Minnesota and beyond. We invite the design community to join this global dialogue—whether in person or remotely—to explore how forest innovation, cultural memory, and sustainable building practices are shaping the future of resilient design.
