Dr. Gaber researched, curated and designed the exhibit which showcases 35 sacred spaces designed by Alvar, Aino, and Elissa Aalto. Over the course of five decades, the Aaltos were involved in the renovation of seven historic churches, designed 11 built ecclesiastical structures, and conceptualized 17 unbuilt sacred spaces for communities in various parts of Finland and several other countries. The detailed 3D drawings on exhibition highlights the Aaltos’ unique contribution to church architecture.
The exhibit, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) with collaborative support from the Alvar Aalto Foundation, is a tactile representation of the work of the Aaltos over the span of their lives, accompanied by detailed historical information. The pieces are organized chronologically, revealing the relationships between the designs developed over five decades. It also includes textual and visual reflections on key themes in sacred spaces, such as art, projects designed outside Finland, and the subsequent phases of the constructed churches.
Dr. Gaber led two Aalto-themed courses at the , where students were given an opportunity for collaboration. In the 2022 graduate course, ‘Mythic Places: Crafting Aaltos’ Design Universe’ and the 2024 undergraduate course, ‘Community and Continuity in Aalto’s Sacred Spaces’, students played a crucial role in creating the 3D drawings displayed in the exhibit. These drawings integrate original architectural plans (including floor plans, sections, and elevations) with all available information, allowing for a comprehensive spatial understanding of both the built and unbuilt ecclesiastical spaces as the Aaltos envisioned them.
Ten McEwen School of Architecture students and two alumni traveled to Finland with Dr. Tammy Gaber in September to build and launch the exhibit.
The following students created the 3D drawings featured in the exhibit:
Graduate: Laura Auchinleck, Abigail Hudyma, Sarah Belchkar, Livingston Boyd, Zachary Briguglio, MacKenzie Cameron, Lauren Carr, Cat Daigle, John Grzeda, Jonathan Kabumbe, Candice Kinnunen, Sarah Mason, Aaron McRoberts, Janae Rodrigues, Sydney Sheppard, Jacob Smith (alumnus, 2022).
Undergraduate: Elijah Alkhoury, Noam Aufgang, Sam Ballantyne, Maddison Belanger, Andrew Eveleigh, Humbert Gelas, Ravleen Gill, Kalila Hamilton-Bachiu, Gustav Jost, Isi Lusha, Sasha Sousa (alumna, 2024).
Drawings were created with the help of PhD candidate, Laura Auchinleck. Abigail Hudyma worked with Dr. Gaber as a Graduate Research Assistant for the duration of the project, supporting and contributing with collecting data, creating drawings, and curating the exhibit.
The Sacred Spaces exhibit offers a unique opportunity to explore the multifaceted and significant legacy of the Aaltos’ in church architecture. On opening night of the exhibit, Dr. Tammy Gaber gave a public lecture to 60 local and international visitors of the exhibit and was awarded the ‘Alvar Aalto Medal of Valor’ for her years of dedication to researching the Aalto buildings.
This project showcases Dr. Gaber’s creativity and dedication not only to her research but also to her students whose academic experience was enriched through this unique intersection of education and architectural heritage.