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Finnish Architecture and Design Days 2023 focuses on quality of life

A white flag with a blue cross hoisted on the facade of a classical building.

Ida Uotila / MFA

The next Finnish Architecture and Design Days will be celebrated from 1st to 5th February 2023. The festival week, themed Quality of Living, and the flag-flying day on February 3rd highlight the impact good design has on the quality of life.

A good living environment creates quality of life. A socially, functionally and aesthetically high-quality everyday environment enhances well-being, equality and a sense of community. 

The major ecological and economic decisions affecting the whole life cycle of an object, building or urban space are made on the drawing board. Global crises and major societal changes require each of us to be adaptable, but the quality of life must be preserved in the face of change.

Architecture and Design Days 2023 will take place from 1st to 5th February. This year's theme, Quality of Living, has inspired a wide range of organisations to sign up to the programme with dozens of events and exhibitions across Finland.

On the 3rd of February, Finnish flags are hoisted in celebration of Alvar and Aino Aalto and Finnish architecture and design. The national flag-flying day celebrates the essential role architecture and design have played in developing the Finnish welfare state and its identity. This new national celebration was well received in February 2022, and the organisations behind the motion hope the day will be established as a permanent flag-flying day.

The goal of Finnish Architecture and Design Days is to open our eyes to architecture and design as an important part of our everyday lives and to strengthen our sense of ownership and participation in our built and designed environment.


Finnish Architecture and Design Days are organised by Archinfo, Alvar Aalto Foundation, Museum of Finnish Architecture, Designmuseum, Ornamo, EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Association of Finnish Architects’ Offices ATL, Finnish Association of Architects SAFA, The Building Information Foundation RTS, Finnish Association of Landscape Architects MARK, and Finnish Association of Interior Architects SIO, together with Finnish Design Info and the New Architecture and Design Museum project. The festival is included in the programme of the European Heritage Days.