The Finn Alvar Aalto (1898 - 1976) is not only one of the greatest architects of the 20th century; he is also an eminent draughtsman. He once explained his passion for sketching with the remark that "God created paper for the purpose of drawing architecture on it". And indeed, Aalto’s hand drawings have formed a central part of his work, since of some 500 projects nearly 300 were never realised.

The first sketches for a project frequently illustrate more clearly than the completed building the basic design that an architect had in mind. The early planning stage often features concepts and drawings reflecting the architectural vision in its purest form, untouched by any concessions or cutbacks subsequently required. Preliminary sketches mirror both the ideal concepts and the process of design taking shape. The viewer can immerse himself in Alvar Aalto’s drawings, absorb his concepts and ideas and follow how these take shape, are modified and rejected, how projects grow out of lines and landscapes and disappear again.

By way of drawings, models and animated films the exhibition "Drawn in Sand - Unrealised Visions by Alvar Aalto", an exhibition of the Alvar Aalto Academy, Helsinki, the Alvar Aalto Museum, Jyväskylä, and the Architekturmuseum der TU München, presents a selection of unrealised projects of this famous architect spanning a period of over 50 years. These impressive works include international plans such as a city centre in Montreal, the Columbus Memorial in Santo Domingo and the art museums in Shiraz and Tallinn. Viewed side by side, the sketches reveal how Aalto develops buildings and spaces from his drawings, consistently taking up and modifying ideas and motifs from earlier projects. The unrealised designs by Alvar Aalto are graphic traces running through his complete works without ever having left his drawing desk. They provide a fascinating insight into a great architect’s way of thinking by means of a pencil.