A day in Meri-Toppila

Did you know that the area known as Meri-Toppila was originally an industrial site completed in 1931? From 1931 to 1985, Oy Toppila produced sulphite pulp for Dixon’s paper mills in England. The factory complex was designed in 1931 by the young architect Alvar Aalto. After pulp production ended, the City of Oulu rezoned and redeveloped the area into a residential district, where many of the old factory buildings remain an integral part of the present-day environment.

What kind of history is embedded in the area’s built environment, and how does it appear today? Come and learn about the architectural history of the Meri-Toppila Daycare Centre, join an architectural walking tour, or listen to local and international speakers at AaltoSiilo.

Join us also to learn how Oulu is involved in the world’s most prestigious architectural event next year, Venice Architectural Biennale 2027!

The event will premiere Crossroads documentary series, which is a story about memories and individuals whose paths have intersected in a unique way with the AaltoSiilo in Oulu. The series explores the impact of the former silo building and its surrounding community on individuals – on memory, identity, and the experience of place. As the story unfolds, viewers witness how a long-abandoned storage building gradually transforms into a space for culture, art, and encounters. The work consists of six mini documentaries of approximately 5 minutes each. The documentary series has received arts and culture grant funding from the City of Oulu in 2025. WATCH THE TRAILER!

The event is part of the Oulu Alvar Aalto Week.

PROGRAMME
(also available on Oulu's Official Calendar)

Part 1: 11:00–12:00 | Oulu & Venice Architecture Biennale 2027
AaltoSiilo | English | Registration required
Architect and curator Kaisa Karvinen, curator of the Pavilion of Finland exhibition at the 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale, joins Henrika Pihlajaniemi and Jenni Hakovirta from the University of Oulu to discuss Oulu's role in one of the world's leading architecture events.

Part 2: 12:00–14:00 | Heritage of Meri-Toppila
Meri-Toppila Daycare Centre | Finnish & English
Discover the architectural history of the former industrial area with architect Veli-Pekka Huhmo, followed by a guided walking tour led by Pia Krogius from the City of Oulu, ending at AaltoSiilo.

Part 3: 14:00–16:00 | Local Encounters
AaltoSiilo | Finnish & English | Registration required
Presentations and discussions featuring architect Charlotte Skene Catling (Skene Catling de la Peña), Anna Niemelä (Crossroads documentary series), Elina Yli-Luukko (Arctic Construction Cluster Finland), Venanzia Rizzi, Eeva Huuhtanen, and Henri Käpynen, exploring adaptive reuse, architectural heritage, and new approaches to preserving modern architecture.

Part 4: 16:30–19:00 | International Dialogue
AaltoSiilo | English | Registration required
An international programme featuring artists Elina Brotherus and Lauri Astala, Ivan Blasi (Fundació Mies van der Rohe), Peter Luddy (University College Cork), and representatives of Creative Europe, offering perspectives on architecture, art, and cultural collaboration across Europe.

Visitors are welcome to attend the full programme or individual sessions. Registration is required for Parts 1, 3, and 4 due to limited seating capacity.

The event is organised by AaltoSiilo in cooperation with Factum Foundation, City of Oulu, Archinfo, University of Oulu, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, the Bauhaus Goes North project, the Oulu Association of the Finnish Association of Construction Engineers and Architects (RIA), Arctic Construction Cluster Finland, and Wienerberger Oy.