THE CHRISTINE AND GÖRAN SCHILDT FOUNDATION

The two main aims of the Christine and Göran Schildt foundation are to strengthen the cultural contacts between the Mediterranean region and Finland and to elucidate the architect Alvar Aalto’s life’s work. These two themes have been of great importance to Göran Schildt. The foundation’s activities consist of thematic exhibitions, publications, lectures and seminars as well as smaller research projects in co-operation with various academic institutions. Göran Schildt’s archives, which are open to the public, serve as a basis for these activities. Exhibitions and programmes are arranged in the yellow wooden house at Östra strandgatan 7.

THE AUTHOR GÖRAN SCHILDT (1917-2009)

Göran Schildt’s creative production comprises cultural history, the theory of art, essays, journalism, travel books, biographies and fiction. His works are associated with a variety of fields, primarily sailing and the Mediterranean. In 1965 Göran Schildt acquired a second home on the Greek island of Leros. Here he came in direct contact with the Greek culture and his sailing boat Daphne got a new home harbour. Daphne has been restored and is on exhibition in Forum Marinum in Turku.  The friendship between Göran Schildt and Alvar Aalto began in 1952 when Schildt together with his friend Roberto Sambonet visited Aalto’s architectural office. This meeting resulted in a lifelong friendship that lasted until Aalto’s death in 1976. Schildt published articles on Aalto’s new buildings and after Aalto’s decease he wrote a biography in four volumes about the architect. As a token of friendship Alvar Aalto designed a house for Christine and Göran Schildt in Ekenäs. The house was finished in 1970 and is still in private use.

Summerexhibition 2010 LEROS OUR ISLAND IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

---