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Alvar Aalto Biography |
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto (February 3, 1898 - May 11, 1976) was a Finnish architect and a designer of furniture and glassware.
Born in Kuortane, Finland he one of the first and most influential architects of the Scandinavian modern movement, and a member of the Congres Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne. Major works include the Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Finland, and the campus of Helsinki University of Technology. Aalto's glassware include the world-famous "Aalto Vase".
Alvar Aalto was born in Kuortane, Finland in 1898 on February 3 and died in Helsinki on May 11, 1976. He studied architecture at the Helsinki University of Technology from 1916 to 1921. Back in Jyväskylä, he opened his first architectural office in 1923. The following year he married architect Aino Marsio. Their honeymoon journey to Italy sealed an intellectual bond with the culture of the Mediterranean region that was to remain important to Aalto for the rest of his life.
Aalto's wide field of activity ranges from designing furniture and glassware to architecture and painting. His vase collection of glass design is known all over the world.
Aalto's vases transferred from Karhula to Iittala Glassworks for rationalisation reasons, Iittala took objects from the "Aalto" series into production because of their artictic values.
Aalto's furniture designs are manufactured by Herman Miller and include: Aalto Armchair 400, Aalto Armchair 406, Aalto Armchair 41, Aalto Chair 611, Aalto Chair 65 and 66, Aalto Extension Table H92, Aalto High Stool K65, Aalto Lounge Chair 43, Aalto Stool 60 and E60, Aalto Table 83 and 84, Aalto Tea Trolley 900 and 901.
Alvar Aalto collections were making the architects homes beautiful, but in the late 70`s the "Aalto" vase found its way to ordinary homes, first in Scandinavia, then all over the world. He designed 70 buildings for the town and its surroundings, 37 of which were realised.
Important buildings
1921 - 1923: Bell tower, Kauhavala, Finland
1924 - 1928: Municipal hospital, Alajärvi, Finland
1926 - 1929: Defence Corps Building, Jyväskylä, Finland
1927: Töölö church, Helsinki, Finland
1927: Viipuri library (new drawings, 1928, 1929, 1933, built according to last drawings 1934 - 1935)
1928 - 1929, 1930: Turun Sanomat newspaper offices, Turku, Finland
1928 - 1929: Tuberculosis sanatorium and staff housing, Paimio, Finland
1931: Central University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia (former Yugoslavia)
1933 - 1935: Municipal library, Vyborg, Russia
1934: Corso theatre, restaurant interior, Zürich, Switzerland
1939: Finnish Pavillion, 1939 World's Fair
1947 - 1948: Baker House, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
1952 - 1958: House of Culture, Helsinki, Finland
1958 - 1987: Town centre, Seinäjoki, Finland
?? - 1965: Regional Library of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
1962 - 1971: Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, Finland
1970: Mount Angel Abbey Library, Mount Angel, Oregon. |
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