Aalto Bridge

Tartu 2024 and Oulu 2026 build a one-day event bridge between the Alvar Aalto buildings. One edge is Villa Tammekann and the another old industrial building Aalto Siilo in Oulu. They are linked with joint online streaming. Main performers in Tartu are video artist Gatesleeper and VJ Tencu. There is also free guided tours in the villa and free garden party.

Two Capitals of Culture of European Union, Tartu and Oulu, are building a one-day event bridge between the Alvar Aalto buildings. One end of the bridge will be the Villa Tammekann villa designed by Aalto in Tartu, the other in Oulu at the Toppila factory site. There is old industrial building designed by Aalto, current Aalto Siilo cultural factory.

At both ends, the Aalto building will serve as an event arena on 14 September. They will host concerts and other events, which will be streamed to a big screen to another capital of culture. The people from Tartu and Oulu will be able to attend joint parties without having to travel.

The main performers in Tartu are Estonian electronic music and video artist Gatesleeper and VJ Tencu. They offer a new perspective on Alvar Aalto. Gatesleeper, aka Martin Rästa, is a graphic designer, multidisciplinary artist and musician. He combines sound, image and different art forms. VJ Tencu aka Andres Tenusaar is a freelance director, animator and audiovisual artist.

Finnish art photographer Elina Brotherus will also offer a fresh perspective on Aalto, presenting recent art photographs from Villa Tammekann.

In Oulu, one of the main performer is British techno band Ossia. At Aalto Siilo electronic music duo Varjur from Tartu will also perform, and the online stream will bring him back to Tartu. At the end of the evening, an acrobatic group will “take over” the industrial building. The six-hour live cultural programme combines different art forms, two Aalto buildings and two Capitals of Culture of EU. In Tartu, architectural historian Karin Hallas-Murula will also talk about the importance of Alvar Aalto. You can also join free guided tours in Villa Tammekann – or just relax at the garden party.

The two Alvar Aalto buildings are architectural landmarks, but completely different in style. Villa Tammekann is a charming old-fashioned villa. In Oulu, Aalto designed the Toppila pulp mill site. Now all that remains is a peculiarly shaped wood-chip silo resembling a cathedral.

Programme in Tartu:
15.00 Cultural bridge starts, Tartu greets Oulu
15.30 Guided tour in Villa Tammekann
(max 30 min, in Estonian), guide Lea Asso
16.00 Alvar Aalto – what should we know about him?
Architectural historian Karin Hallas-Murula (in Estonian)
17.00 Guided tour in Villa Tammekann
On video stream Paul Lepasson (EE)
18.00 Gatesleeper and VJ Tencu (LIVE)
19.00 Guided tour in Villa Tammekann
20.00 On video stream flamenco performance
21.00 On video stream Ilmatila acrobacy
22.00 Garden party and video stream end

Organizers and supporters:
The Finnish Institute in Estonia, University of Turku Foundation, Tarto 2024, Ö Stuudio, Oulu 2026, Factum Foundation, Aalto Siilo, pARTir, NextGenerationEU