Lotta Helene Jalava
Born in 1985 Helsinki, Finland

EDUCATION

(2027) Master of Art (MA)
Master programme in Art and Media
Major studies: Art Education
Aalto University School of Art and Design

2021 Teachers' Qualifications in Arts
Faculty of Education
Tampere University

2015 Landscape Architect (MLA)
Major studies: Landscape design and construction
Minor studies: Scenography (personal minor studies entity)
Aalto University School of Art and Design

2010 Bachelor of Science (BS)
Architecture Department
Helsinki University of Technology

2004 Finnish Baccalaureate
Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Visual Arts

RECENT WORK POSITIONS

since 2026 Member, Venue working group / Strategic development of event venues
Tapahtumateollisuus, Helsinki

since 2024 Landscape architect & Artist
/ Responsible for AI Strategy, Internal AI Workflows
Nomaji Oy, Helsinki

since 2015 Entrepreneur, Founder
Artist / Landscape architect
MAISEMASTUDIO, Helsinki

since 2015 Part-time university teacher
Landscape architecture
Aalto University School of Art and Design

04/2022-04/2024 on family leave and postgraduate studies

2020-21 Collaborative art teacher
Interdisciplinary art courses, part time
Kansalaisfoorumi, Helsinki

2020 Art teacher trainee
Sculpting workshop with plaster
Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Visual Arts

2020 Collaborative art teacher trainee
Basic education in visual arts
Espoo School of Art, Espoo

11/2017-09/2019 on family leave and graduating studies

2017 Assisting set / exhibition designer Kari Kankaanpää (freelance)
The National Museum of Finland, Helsinki

2016-17 Landscape architect (freelance)
MASU planning Oy, Helsinki and Copenhagen

2016-17 Designer / Producer for a startup
An early-stage contributor to visual identity and company culture, delivering brand assets and launch ops. Yeply Oy, Helsinki

2015-17 Project architect / Landscape architect (freelance)
Casagrande Laboratory, Helsinki

2015-17 Landscape architect (freelance)
City of Jyväskylä, Finland

2016 Illustrator (freelance)
Espoo City Museum, Finland

2013-14 Landscape architect
Janne Saario Landscape Architecture

2013 Landscape architect
BeiJiGuang, Peking and Helsinki

2010-13 Producer
WASTELANDS: XXXII European Architecture Students Assembly
Architecture festival, Helsinki

2011-14 Junior landscape architect
Hemgård Landscape Design, Helsinki

POSITIONS OF TRUST

Thesis examiner Aalto University School of Art and Design 2023

Thesis supervisor Aalto University School of Art and Design 2023-24

GRANTS AND STIPENDS

2025 Invitational design competition winning proposal
Turku City Hall Block Renovation (Courtyard Renewal), City of Turku.
Nomaji (landscape); LPR Architects (principal architect); Rakennustoimisto Laamo Oy (project management contractor); collaborative delivery

2025 OKM / Opetus- ja kulttuurimisteriö
Grant, Nature-based play & activity guide (Nomaji Landscape Architects Ltd.).
Role: funding proposal co-lead. Awarded 2025.

2017 TAIKE / Arts Promotion Centre Finland
Landscape Experience team in Reykjavik, Iceland

2015 Aalto University School of Art and Design, Architecture Department
Stipend for Landscape architecture graduation with distinction
Excellent examination with artistic interdisciplinary and experimentally bold visions.

2012 TAIKE / Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Wastelands team

2012 WDC / World Design Capital Helsinki – International Council of Societies of
Industrial Design ICSID, grant, Wastelands team

2011 SAFA / Finnish Association of Architects, Wastelands team

2011 Svenska Kulturfonden / The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, Wastelands team

2011 SKR / Finnish Cultural Foundation, Wastelands team

2011 Helsinki World Design Capital winning entry for summer planting’s design
competition in Helsinki

Whole Lotta Art — me as an artist
EXHIBITIONS, ILLUSTRATIONS, WORKSHOPS AND PRODUCTIONS

(2026) Weathered weather-patinated clothing fabrics and collaboration with a Finnish fashion brand

2026 Interseptio: Exercises in Chaos, body of work / installation. KASTE / DAGG / DEW, ONOMA Summer Exhibition, Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale, Coppersmithy, Fiskars, Finland

2026 Muutarha, collaborative work with Marco Casagrande. ONOMA Summer Exhibition, Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale, Coppersmithy, Fiskars, Finland

2026 Luontoleikki Illustrations for a new nature play concept and a fair booth. Nomaji Oy / Kekkilä Oy

2026 ALKU - lapsiystävällistä maisema-arkkitehtuuria Illustrations for a book about child-friendly landscape architecture. Nomaji Oy

2025 An multisensoral photobooth for Nomaji 10 year anniversary

2025 ALKU – marketing video production. Producer & Creative lead: concept, script, storyboard, directing, post, delivery. Nomaji Oy

2024 Illustrations for Katajanokan laituri PIER4 rooftop garden. The building win the Finlandia prize for for architecture 2025. Nomaji Oy

2021 Future fossiles Stopping the time with plants, clay and plaster, exhibited online, Aalto University

2021 Several hours they grow while falling slowly towards ground
HD-video 3:30 min, exhibited online

2021 Interseptio HD-video 6:22 min, exhibited online, Aalto University

2021 Whole Lotta Weather interdisciplinary research blog and online exhibition, Aalto University

2020 Vale of Immersion multidisciplinary exhibition in virtual reality, Aalto University

2020 A sculpting workshop with plaster for Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Visual Arts

2017 The Story of Finland (permanent exhibition), spatial design & coordination in collaboration with curatorial, AV, lighting and conservation teams; on-site implementation. National Museum of Finland, Helsinki

2017 Landscapes co-exhibition at Out of the Dark concept store Helsinki

2017 Landscape Experience interdisciplinary installation, Design March festival Reykjavik

2017 Finnish Art Society co-exhibition at Cable Factory Helsinki

2016 multi-part, permanent spatial work ensemble with plants and mosses, Nosto digi agency Helsinki

2016 a multi-part, permanent spatial work ensemble with plants and patinated surfaces: translating street textures and spatial logic into the club’s interior environment. Music club G Livelab Helsinki

2017 An immersive fair booth for City of Jyväskylä

2016 Illustrations for Glims Farmstead Museum on permanent exhibition,
Espoo City Museum

2016 Infinite immersion mural and trade booth design for City of Jyväskylä

2015 solo exhibition Island of landscapes in Wanha Woimala Jyväskylä

2015 solo exhibition 3.0 in Telakkaranta R 26 Helsinki

2013-14 solo exhibition Fragiles and installation, Theatre Academy Helsinki

2013 scenography and performative croquis for a dance production Fragiles
in Theatre Academy Helsinki

2013 Saiho-ji Studies of moss patterns, installation with animation, co-exhibition,
Aalto University / Tampere / Kyoto, Japan

2010-12 WASTELANDS European Architecture Students Assembly A two-week architecture festival production including workshop curatory and facititation, Suvilahti Helsinki

2012 HYPERSPEED PIKNIK BOXES in Suvilahti culture event area, Kiinteistö Oy Kaapelitalo, Helsinki

2012 FINNSCAPES outdoor co-exhibition, Aalto University, Lasipalatsinaukio Helsinki

2011-12 Sketch 1: Kokongi scenography for a dance production in Aalto University Helsinki

2011 Cloud A collaboratory workshop and installation in European Architecture Students Assembly, Cadiz, Spain

2010 Hunting Greens workshop and a botanical animation in co-exhibition; Manchester, UK & Belgrade, Serbia

2011 Urban landscape and light co-exhibition, Mom what's architecture? gallery Helsinki

2010 Hunter Diaries illustrated animation, 1:10 min loop, in co-exhibition, Manchester, UK

Whole Lotta Landscapes — me as a landscape architect
PROJECTS AND WORKSHOPS

2025- Kivikoulunkujanpuisto, Iisalmi
Landscape plan with an artistic approach. Nomaji / City of Iisalmi

2025- Mustikkamaa nature-themed playground, Helsinki
Landscape reference plan for a thematic playground rooted in local ecology and experiential nature play. Nomaji / City of Helsinki

2025- Aurora Hospital Area, Helsinki
Landscape vision & site strategy for hospital-area renewal; heritage context, nature-based public-realm typologies

2025 Aurora Hospital Area participatory workshop facilitation including visualizations, Nomaji / City of Helsinki

2025- Turku City Hall courtyard
Landscape renovation plan for a heritage courtyard. Nomaji / City of Turku

2025 Torpparinmäki playground development: a participatory workshop
facilitation and materials. Nomaji / City of Helsinki

2025- Torpparinmäki playground development. Nomaji / City of Helsinki

2025 Niuvanniemi Psychiatrian Hospital New Facility Invited Competition
A masterplan and courtyard schematics; gradients, accessibility, and safety in psychiatric care context. Nomaji / Senate Properties

2025 Fazerila–Santamalmi Invited Competition
A landscape vision and site strategy, nature preservation areas and public-realm typologies.
Nomaji / City of Vantaa & Oy Karl Fazer Ab

2025 Salpausseläntie reneval and Pihlajisto residential area development plan: a participatory workshop facilitation including visualization and building temporary site furniture, Nomaji / City of Helsinki

2024-25 Salpausseläntie reneval and Pihlajisto residential area development plan. Nomaji / City of Helsinki

2025 Topeliusskolan yard renovation: a participatory workshop for scholl’s pupils facilitation including visualizations, Nomaji / City of Helsinki

2024-25 Peltosaari residential area development plan. Nomaji / City of Riihimäki

2017 Vaasanpuistikko reference plan for development, renovation and public art principles. Subconsultant / MASU Planning / City of Helsinki

2016 Vaasanpuistikko reference plan: a participatory workshop
Subconsultant / MASU Planning / City of Helsinki

2016 G Livelab Helsinki. Landscape Architect & Project Architect. Part of the multidisciplinary design team for a live-music club combining architecture, art, lighting and acoustics. Contributed to interior detailing and material design inspired by the urban landscape, translating street textures and spatial logic into the club’s interior environment. Subconsultant / Casagrande Laboratory / Muusikkojen liitto

2013 Open-air museum conversion for a heritage mountain village, Landscape analysis and visual identity; KaiJiPing, Sichuan province, Chongqing China. Subconsultant / BeiJiGuang

PUBLICATIONS

Alku - child-friendly landscape architecture (2025).
Helsinki : Nomaji Landscape Architects Ltd.
Co-authors: Mari Ariluoma, Caroline Moinel
Fin-Eng. ISBN 978-952-88-0852-7 (softcover), ISBN 978-952-88-0853-4 (PDF)

Lapsiystävällinen kaupunki on hitaampi, sallivampi ja kaikille parempi
Finnish Architectural Review 01/2025.
Authors: Mari Ariluoma, Veera Moll, Editor: Lotta Jalava

Whole Lotta Weather (2021) interdisciplinary research blog
https://wholelottaweather.blogspot.com/,
Aalto University School of Art and Design

Maisemien saari (2015).
Master’s thesis in landscape architecture
Aalto University School of Art and Design

Wastelands monograph (2013). Helsinki : Wastelands / EASAFinland ry.
Co-authors: Pekka Ijäs, Emmi Jääskeläinen, Janne Melajoki, Eero Alho, Ville Mellin
ISBN 978-952-93-2085-1 (softcover), ISBN 978-952-93-2086-8 (PDF)

SKILLS

Visual, spatial and narrative thinking with AI-assisted design,
sketching and visualisation with digital and analogue methods

Visualisation and image-making (core):
Adobe Photoshop, Procreate, visualisation with analogue methods

AI-assisted design and image generation:
ChatGPT, Midjourney, Runway, Claude, Nano Banana

Spatial design (CAD):
Archicad, AutoCAD

3D and real-time visualisation (basic):
SketchUp, Blender, Unreal Engine, Substance Painter

Video:
Adobe Premiere

XR (VR/AR) (basic):
Oculus Rift/Quest, Tilt Brush, Gravity Sketch, Brushwork, Arilyn

Coding and physical computing (basic):
Arduino, Adafruit Circuit Playground, Sonic Pi