Architect in the Footsteps of the Tree: Alvar Aalto

In February, we continue to review architects in the Footsteps of the Tree. In the cold days of February, we invite you to Finland, a geography famous for its winters. This month's guest of "Architects in the Footsteps of the Tree" is the famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto...

Born in Finland on February 3, 1898, Alvar Aalto started his architectural education at Helsinki University of Technology. In 2010, Helsinki University of Technology merged with Helsinki School of Economics and Helsinki University of Art and Design into a single university. The university is named Aalto University after Alvar Aalto, who designed most of the buildings on the campus. The idea behind the merger was to bring together science and technology, art and design, and business and economy under one roof.

He was very successful in his architectural career, which he started immediately after his undergraduate education, and carried out important works in the establishment of the national architectural understanding in his country Finland, designed cult works, and brought some narrative features unique to his country to the world architectural literature.

The famous architect Alvar Aalto, who created some of his most important works in Finland, also helped to erase the traces of the destruction his country suffered during the Second World War. The nationwide reconstruction and urbanization movement initiated after the war was carried out by a commission chaired by Alvar Aalto.

One of the important works designed by Alvar Aalto is the Viipuri Library, completed in 1935. Designed with a functionalist approach, the ceiling line of the building is wavy and he preferred wood-based board as the material. The understanding of nature, which is one of the important points of Finnish architecture, and wood-based boards, which are one of the important materials of Finnish classical architecture, were frequently preferred by the famous architect Alvar Aalto in his designs.

Alvar Aalto, who is meticulous about details, preferred to approach the project from the patients' point of view when designing the Paimio Sanatorium for tuberculosis patients. Alvar Aalto's Paimio Sanatorium is regarded as one of the best healthcare buildings, designing a serene yet cheerful environment for the comfort of the patients.

Known as the inventor of bent wood, Alvar Aalto designed furniture that brought him worldwide fame. Designing ergonomic and durable products with an aesthetic appearance, Aalto's designs are still in demand today. The Paimio Chair, Three-Legged and Four-Legged Stool are among the most well-known furniture designs of the famous architect.

Alvar Aalto and his wife Aino Aalto are among the founders of the furniture company Artek founded in 1935 by four young idealists in Helsinki. The firm's partners include artist Maire Gullichsen and writer Nils Gustav Hahl.  Artek's goal is to "sell furniture and promote the culture of modern living through exhibitions and other educational tools".

Artek has achieved success by continuing the vision of its founders for many years and has become one of the world's leading companies in modern furniture design.  One of the 20th century's most important architects, Alvar Aalto designed architecture, furniture, textiles, and glassworks, and was also interested in painting and writing. The famous architect Alvar Aalto, who is still praised today for his important works in more than one field, continued the journey of his designs tracing the footsteps of the tree until the end of his life.

Developed as a result of the wood bending experiments of the famous architect Alvar Aalto and his wife, Northern European furniture has become an important part of our lives. You can check the link to learn more about Birch Wood, the main actor of this revolution in furniture design with its flexibility.

https://manifold.press/hirt-hisir-hus

Warm and Cozy: South American Trees
PREVIOUS
Bauhaus School and Today's Understanding of Design
NEXT