Alusta pavilion moved to the Aalto Campus
Built of clay and ecological materials, the pavilion creates a non-toxic and easily recyclable environment for the pollinators, plants, birds and other species. Between 2022 and 2024, the pavilion was located in the event courtyard between the Museum of Architecture and the Design Museum in Helsinki, attracting both pollinators and people to enjoy and spend time there.
The pavilion creators, architects Elina Koivisto and Maiju Suomi suggest that promoting biodiversity through land use and urban planning can enhance well-being and help mitigate climate change effects.
Alusta pavilion is a place for encounters between humans and non-human animals in urban space. It is shaped in collaboration with plants, human visitors, natural processes, and the passing of time.
The aim of the project, carried out in collaboration with ecology researchers at the University of Helsinki, is to increase biodiversity in the urban environment. The project highlights the essential importance of soil and its organisms for the well-being of the ecosystem.
The Alusta pavilion was opened on campus 14 August.
Location: Alusta pavilion, in front of Otakaari 1X, Espoo
A human-friendly, giant insect hotel emerged in the middle of the city
Alusta, built from clay and populated by plants, is a sanctuary for pollinators and a meeting place for all living things
Read more news
Apply now: Study Wellbeing Innovation in Tongji Summer School in China this August
European students in design, engineering, architecture and business are invited to join a cross-cultural learning experience bringing European and Chinese students together at Tongji University, one of China’s leading universities in Shanghai.
AI companions can comfort lonely users but may deepen distress over time
Long-term use of AI companions may give comfort, but research indicates it may negatively impact users’ wellbeing and their ability to navigate real world relationships.
Researchers make micromanipulation more accessible
FilMBot aims to lower the barrier to high-precision work in education, research, and micro-assembly