International Architecture Seminar "Places That Make You Happy" in Kuressaare

In September, two of the shapers of modern architectural language – Louis Kahn and Alvar Aalto – will come together in Kuressaare. Both are towering figures with direct ties to Estonia: Kahn was born in Saaremaa, and Aalto designed his first private house outside Finland right here in Estonia, in Tähtvere, Tartu.

Internationally renowned architectural thinkers will gather in Kuressaare to explore how architecture and home create a sense of belonging, security, and happiness. An exhibition, film days, and a seminar will connect the legacies of Louis Kahn and Alvar Aalto with contemporary questions about the relationship between people, space, and wellbeing.

The events of the international program dedicated to Louis Kahn’s 125th birth anniversary are:

7 September – 10 October 2026: the international exhibition “Places That Make You Happy: Homes Created by Louis Kahn and Alvar Aalto” at the Kuressaare Town Hall Gallery, and 13–26 November in Tallinn at the Estonian Museum of Architecture and Design Gallery;
14–27 September 2026: Kahn Film Days in Kuressaare, in cooperation with the Thule Centre;
18 September 2026: the English-language international architecture seminar “Places That Make You Happy: Louis Kahn and the Meaning of Place” in Kuressaare.

The keynote speakers at the architecture seminar taking place in Kuressaare on 18 September are:

Marco Falsetti – Italian architect, lecturer, and architectural historian. Falsetti is co-author of the book “Rome and the Legacy of Louis I. Kahn” and one of the most respected Kahn scholars in Europe.
Alessandro Vassella – Swiss architect and one of the leading experts on Louis Kahn’s work, as well as a former student of Kahn. He specializes in sustainable architecture and the restoration of historic buildings, and has authored and edited several publications on Kahn.
Gregory Kahn Melitonov – architect, lecturer, and co-founder of the architecture firm Taller KEN. Gregory is Louis I. Kahn’s grandson and will bring both a family and a professional perspective to the seminar on the significance of Kahn’s architecture.
Sirkkaliisa Jetsonen – Finnish architect and author of books on architecture, who has published numerous works on Alvar Aalto, Eliel Saarinen, and Finnish residential architecture. Her research focuses on the heritage of Nordic architecture and residential culture.
Per Olaf Fjeld – Norwegian architect, professor emeritus, and a former student of Louis Kahn at the University of Pennsylvania. He is internationally known as an architect, teacher, and author, and has extensively studied Kahn’s connections to Nordic architecture.
Marju Kõivupuu – Estonian folklorist, cultural historian, writer, and lecturer, who, in addition to her academic research, has actively contributed to popularizing our heritage culture and taken part in cultural discussions.

The seminar will be moderated by Neeme Raud.

Learn more and join us in Kuressaare to listen, watch, and take part in the discussion: louiskahn.org

Tickets on Fienta:

Seminar and gala dinner, 18.09 (Early Bird until 31.08.26): €135.00
Seminar only (Early Bird until 31.08.26): €60.00
Student (up to age 26), seminar only (Early Bird until 31.08.26): €30.00
Gala dinner, evening of 18.09: €85.00

Transport and accommodation recommendations

The events marking Louis Kahn’s 125th birth anniversary are organized by the Louis Kahn Estonia Foundation.
The event is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Business and Innovation Agency, Saaremaa Municipality, and the Estonian Association of Architects.

More information: Louis Kahn Estonia Foundation