Otakaari 15 art contest now open

Aalto University Student Union invites Aalto students to participate in an art contest seeking permanent artworks for a new student housing building on Otakaari 15, to be completed this summer. Through this contest, we are seeking artworks that enhance the comfort of the building while also being artistically and visually appealing.  

The contest’s inspiring themes include the Otaniemi campus, the Aalto University community, and its vibrant student life. The art contest is open from the beginning of February through the end of March. You can participate by submitting your artwork proposal via the contest form, along with the required additional information. If your proposal is selected, the artist will have the opportunity to deliver or create the artwork in the building between May and August. The building will open to residents at the beginning of September. 

Artwork locations in the building

Several locations in the building are reserved for artworks, which you can explore in the contest invitation materials. In addition to the lobbies, the shared club room also offers excellent opportunities for artworks. AYY will organise a presentation tour for those interested in participating in the contest. During the event, we will review potential artwork locations and go over any conditions to consider regarding the building. The presentation event will be held on Wednesday, 4 March, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., and participants are required to register in advance using the form below:

Enrollment to the site visit - form

The technique for the artwork is your choice, but the implementation must take into account the intended use and conditions in the facilities. Possible artworks may include paintings, graphics, murals, mobiles suspended from the ceiling, or sculptures, for example. In the contest proposal, artworks should be sketched for the planned space.  

AYY’s office has preserved wood material from the plot of the first Otakaari project, Otakaari 15. The wood has been sawn into one-meter sections and may be freely used as material for artworks and other projects. 

Who can participate? 

Aalto students.

How to participate?

Please submit your proposal via the form below, including detailed information about the work, materials, and several photos or sketches. Please also provide an estimate of the cost (including materials and your own work). The student union will cover expenses for hanging and installation. 

Otakaari 15 Art Competition Entry Form 2026
 

Budget

If possible, the student union may acquire several artworks, with an art acquisition budget of EUR 5,000–7,000. Please indicate the price at which you would be willing to sell your artwork for placement in the OK15 building. 

Jury and selection process

Participants may submit up to two artworks for the contest. Acquired works will be selected by a jury, which includes an expert from the arts field, representatives of AYY, and the student union’s Artistic Activities Specialist from TOKYO.

Further information:

Competition practices:                                                         

Anna Merikari
Museum Director, Community Manager
anna.merikari@ayy.fi 

Questions regarding installation and mounting of artworks:

Petri Kuusisto
Project Manager
petri.kuusisto@ayy.fi 

Background of Otakaari area

Otakaari forest ridge for housing use   

Since the 2010s, land use plans for the Otakaari area have aimed to balance new construction with the protection of the cultural environment and biodiversity—particularly the preservation of the natural habitat of flying squirrels. While new construction will alter the boundaries of the green areas on campus, the goal is to maintain the green fingers and forest structure of the ridge as a part of the ecological and urban landscape in Otaniemi.  

The area’s development is being carried out in phases, beginning with Otakaari 15 and continuing into the 2030s, as part of a broader transformation in which a traditional university campus is evolving into a diverse and more compact science and housing hub. Construction of the Otakaari 15 student housing property began in early 2025, and the property will be completed in August 2026.