Alvar aalto concert hall finland in helsinki. Helsinki: Alvar Aalto's house and studio. Library in Vyborg

Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto is an innovator of Finnish architecture, the "father" of Northern European modernism and a representative of Scandinavian design of the 20th century.

Childhood, youth, education

The future architect was born on February 3, 1898 in the small Finnish settlement of Kuortane, in the family of a forester. Young Alvar spent his childhood in the village of Alajärvi among the poetic northern nature, the love and respect for which he carried through all his work. Ros Aalto was a very curious and independent child, which further explains his craving for creating innovative ideas and rethinking existing architectural canons.

Interest in art manifested itself in the young man thanks to the drawing lessons that he attended while studying at the lyceum in Jyväskylä (Jyväskylä Lyceum). In these lessons, local artist Jonas Heiska taught Alvar graphics and spatial thinking.

Finland and Aalto are united - she serves as a source of inspiration for him

Carier start

In 1916, Alvar entered the architectural faculty of the Helsinki Polytechnic Institute. (Teknillinen korkeakoulu), where Sigurda Frosterus, one of the leading architects of the rationalist wing of Finland at that time, becomes his mentor. It was Frosterus who influenced the formation of the style preferences of the young Aalto. By a lucky chance, the architect later created a project for expanding the campus of his institute, and in 2010 the educational institution will be named after Alvar Aalto (Aalto University School of Science and Technology).

The academic years were interrupted for a short period by the civil war, but this did not prevent Aalto from becoming a certified architect in 1921.

The young architect received a professional "baptism" in his student years thanks to the reconstruction project of his parents' wooden house in Alajärvi. It is from this project that Alvar's "great love" for working with wood begins. Finland, with its hard-working people and newly gained independence, determined the main feature of his worldview - a sense of self-affirmation.

Alvar Aalto's house in Helsinki, 1936

Finding Your Style

In 1923, Aalto returned to Jyväskylä and opened his first architectural studio called Alvar Aalto, architect and monumental artist. During this period, the architect begins to form his own style and approach to design, mixing the rationalism of the functionalists and the imitation of history from the neoclassical.

Also, the architect begins to experiment with the idea of ​​national romanticism, using traditional natural materials (wood, brick, granite, etc.) and the close connection of buildings with the natural environment in the design. In 1927 Alvar Aalto moved to Turku with his wife Aino.

This year, a library project was created in Vyborg - one of the most famous objects of the architect. In this project, the architect for the first time also develops the design of premises and furniture, which becomes a prerequisite in subsequent works.

When designing the building, Aalto created an “ideal space” in which everything was thought out: from the details of decor to lighting at different times of the day.

Library in Vyborg

In 2013, the library building was completely reconstructed. The authentic look of the interiors and all elements of decor and furniture was preserved. At the moment, the object is reopened to visitors.

The desire to engage not only in architecture, but also in object design prompted the architect to move to Helsinki in 1933 and open his own firm, Artek. The production of interior items began, becoming examples of modern style and Finnish design. In his work, he favored natural materials and silhouettes: laminated wood and glass, abstract forms and flexible silhouettes. Aalto reproduced the familiar outlines of wildlife using thin layers of solid wood, giving them a curved shape.

Armchair Paimio, 1932

Three-legged stool №60

Alvaro Aalto's designs are timeless. Without losing their relevance, they still attract people en masse and have an increasing influence on the aesthetic tastes of consumers. For example, anyone can buy an Alvara design stool at IKEA right now.

Mature creativity

The strictness of geometric forms, inherent in the early career, gave way to the freedom and flexibility of volumetric composition. The architect recreated the silhouettes and motifs of nature in his works.

The experiments of this time were embodied in the project of Villa Mareia (1939), created for a family of art collectors. According to the architect, this villa has become his favorite "brainchild". In this project, Alvar Aalto for the first time "let" nature into the living space of man. The "open" layout, numerous windows and natural building materials have created a natural and comfortable living environment. In the future, Villa Mareia was compared with the famous House over the falls of Frank Lloyd Wright.

For him, unity with the environment is an indisputable law!

Worldwide recognition

Aalto's designs were exhibited in Paris (1937) and New York (1939). Already since the 1930s, part of the exposition of the New York Museum of Modern Art consisted of elements of decor and graphics of the architect.

The project of the Finnish Pavilion at the International Exhibition in New York in 1939 brought the architect worldwide fame. It was this work that Frank Lloyd Wright himself called "the work of a genius."

After gaining worldwide fame, Aalto begins to receive projects abroad, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus. Also during this period, he taught a course of lectures (1940-1948) at this university. Returning to Finland, Aalto develops a project for the Finlandia Palace, the municipal center in Säjunätsalo and other iconic buildings of modern Finland.

Palace "Finland"

Undoubtedly, Aalto made a great contribution to the architecture of the twentieth century, the focus of which should always be a person. His success is based on simplicity in everything: lines, volume, material, texture - everything that is understandable and natural for people. The architect died at the age of 78, leaving behind memory, knowledge, an example and inspiration for future generations.

Notable projects

Sanatorium in Paimio, 1933

The sanatorium in Paimio near Turku is one of the architect's first major projects. Organic and thoughtful layouts made the building a symbol of Aalto's transition to rationalist architecture. As the architect himself said, first of all, a sanatorium is a medical instrument, and it should serve people.

Museum of Modern Art in Aalborg, 1972

The project was designed by Alvar Aalto in collaboration with his second wife Elissa and Danish architect Jean-Jacques Baruel. The building has the shape of a ziggurat and blends in harmoniously with the surrounding natural hills. A feature of the project is the pyramid-shaped roof that covers the central hall. The architect deftly “lets in” soft natural light through numerous windows into all the exhibition spaces.

Riola Church in Vergato, 1978

Aalto was also involved in religious architecture, and one of the interesting projects is the parish church of Riola in Grizzana, Italy, near Bologna. The concrete building follows the shape of the surrounding mountain landscape. The interior feature of the church is white asymmetrical "ribs" that create a soft shadow. Daylight comes through ribbon windows in the roof of the church. The interior of the church is made in a modernist style: there are wooden benches in the hall, the height of which decreases as you approach the altar.

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Alvar Aalto

Alvar Aalto is the brightest representative of the Scandinavian style of functionalism. Comfortable, aesthetic and functional buildings, harmoniously combined with the surrounding landscape, became the hallmark of the architect.

Alvar Aalto was born on February 3, 1898. In 1916, Alvar entered the Polytechnic Institute in Helsingfors. Two years later, he leaves as a soldier in the war for the independence of Finland. After the war, he continued his studies, graduated from the institute and received a diploma in architecture.

At the very beginning of his career, Aalto was looking for new constructive forms, preferring natural materials. In the early thirties, the architect moved to the capital, opened a company for the production of interior items.

Newspaper building in Turku

The first buildings were built according to the designs of a Finnish architect in Turku at the end of the twenties of the last century. The buildings did not differ from other mass projects - they were designed in the form of a parallelepiped with even rows of windows.

However, the project of the first own house, which was built in 1934 in the capital, is distinguished by the presence of characteristic features of the Scandinavian direction of the functional style.

Among Aalto's projects, the most interesting are the following:

House of Culture in Helsinki, built in the fifties

House in Munkkiniemi

House in Munkkiniemi from the side of the white tower

The house in Munkkiniemi, next door to Helsinki, served as a studio and residential at the same time. There was a clear distinction between the functional parts. The white brick tower was for work, the residential part was located on the lower floors.

Palace "Finland"

Palace "Finland"

The Finlandia Palace, which is the most famous project of the architect, is an example of Scandinavian functionalism. It is a light and austere building with marble finishes and spacious halls.

Designed in a functional style, buildings are prime examples of structures for living. They are clearly divided into blocks that correspond to specific functional tasks - work, rest and transitions. Scandinavian functionalism was distinguished by the fact that it always took into account the surrounding conditions, in addition, aesthetics occupied not the last place in the design.

Aalto paid special attention to the unity of architecture and the environment of the building. In Alvar's projects you will not find decorative elements. If there are any decorations, then a certain functional load is assigned to them. Basically, decorative elements are technical details such as ventilation systems, lighting equipment.

Functionalism is clearly expressed in Aalto's designs for the construction of rest houses and hospitals. Such buildings were considered by the architect as tools for recreation and healing.

Tuberculosis sanatorium in Paimio in the province of Varsinais-Suomi

It is worth noting that Aalto attached great importance to the comfort of the interior. For example, a shadowless lighting system for halls and libraries. By fanning the room towards the light, the architect compensated for its lack in the country's climate. Light was a shaping factor. Reading rooms, catalogs and subscriptions are not fenced off from each other. They form a single space, which is divided into zones with the help of lighting. The halls for issuing and reading books are designed without windows - the walls are occupied by bookshelves. The architect has 10 unrealized and 12 completed library projects.

Library in Vyborg

An interesting project is the library of Vyborg. In this project, Aalto realized an undulating flow of wood plates, which had unique acoustic characteristics. In order for the books to be illuminated from all sides, Alvar made glass walls and windows in the ceiling in the library.

Aalto's Scandinavian functional style was close to an organic architectural style. The architect simultaneously reveals the properties of natural materials and organically fits architecture into the surrounding nature.

A favorite wave-like shape is used by Aalto everywhere. The Finnish architect owns the idea that the building is a continuation of space, and nature and architecture are one. His projects are characterized by the exact correspondence of the form of each building to its purpose, while the buildings are organically combined with the landscape.

Municipal center of Säjunatsalo

The creativity of the Scandinavian architect is marked by the creation of a large number of large projects of public buildings: these are the municipal center of Säjunätsalo, the Pension Administration, the House of Culture for Workers, the house of the Nordic countries in Reykjavik. Among the places of worship are the Church of the Three Crosses in Vuoksenniska, parish centers. He also designed industrial buildings, residential buildings and exhibition pavilions.

Church of the Three Crosses in Vuoksenniska

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I visited the studio and home of iconic 20th century architect Alvar Aalto in Helsinki and was able to articulate exactly what the ideal home looks like.

1. Both the studio and the home of the great Finnish architect, to whom we owe the birth of the concept scandinavian design, are located in a quiet and green area of ​​​​Helsinki, where the leisurely fourth tram will bring you.

2. This is what Aalto's studio looks like, now turned into the office of a foundation named after the architect. When Alvar Aalto designed this building, he wanted to embody in it all the aesthetic principles inherent in it, not only to make the building comfortable for the work of his office, but also not to disturb the existing way of the residential area.

3. Aalto's house, which for a long time combined the functions of both a living space and a studio, is a five-minute walk away. Both the studio and the house can be visited with a guided tour, as I did. The schedule can be found.

4. Alvar Aalto considered his objects to be absolute works of art, that is, he designed not only the building itself, but absolutely all its details, thinking through the nuances of decoration, lighting, developing the design of furniture and lamps.

5. Acquaintance with the architect's studio begins with the kitchen-dining room. Aalto's favorite place is over there in the corner. If you look carefully at this and the previous photo, you will notice how few right angles are found in the design: Aalto strove for the use of freer, more natural lines. Aalto built his buildings in close connection with nature and sunlight, so large windows and high natural light are characteristic features of most of his objects. I really liked the sail structure on the ceiling, which even in cloudy weather, which is not at all rare in Helsinki, gives a diffused warm light.

6. The kitchen is also devoid of right angles. All furniture in the studio is produced by the furniture company Artek, founded by Aalto.

7. The second floor was occupied by architectural studios.

8. If you have never seen Artek furniture, you will surely recognize these bent plywood elements. Do they remind you of the details of IKEA stools and armchairs? All right! But it was Aalto who invented and patented this technology in the thirties, when it was simply impossible to imagine bent birch plywood!

9. Looking at this photo of the presentation room, notice not only the bent plywood parts of the chairs, but also the stand with photographs and drawings, which are flooded with natural light. The building is designed in such a way that a window is located above the inclined plane for the presentation of projects. The genius is in the details, right?

10. Armchairs, wardrobes, floor lamp, table designed by Aalto.

11. The minimum use of right angles, the maximum fit into the landscape and the maximum use of sunlight - this is Aalto.

12. The design of the mid-20th century and now looks very, very fresh.

13. Here you can clearly see one of the details by which Aalto's projects are always recognized - these are the windows in the ceiling. I recently rented a villa in northern Italy with panoramic glazing and windows in the ceiling and was shocked by how much more light under the same conditions pours through the skylights. In the project of the future house, which my husband and I will build one day, the windows in the ceiling occupy one of the main places.

14. And even the steps here, of course, are of natural forms.

15. Aalto invented furniture for his projects himself. It is still produced under the Artek brand. For example, this chair was invented in 1932 for a sanatorium in Paimio and bears the same name.

16. Chair model of the late twenties.

17. Almost ninety years have passed, but the silhouette and materials have not lost their relevance. Genius, right?

18. Floor lamp, 1954 design. The curved lines of the lampshade resemble the wings of an angel. Don't remember? Imagine what the structure looks like when viewed from above. Out? If not, look carefully at photo number 4.

19. 1947 Bent legs turned into a Y-shaped design. I think you have noticed where Ikea draws inspiration from. I've always loved their simple pieces, but after getting to know Artek furniture, I have even more respect for the Swedish furniture giant for making ingenious design accessible. Ikea is not created according to the drawings of Aalto, but carries many of his ideas to the masses.

20. It's time to visit Alvar Aalto's house and see how the Scandinavian design genius designed the living space for himself and his family.

21. Because For a long time the building combined the functions of work and personal space, then acquaintance with the house begins with the studio.

22. What a wonderful unity of form and content! How wonderful these large windows overlooking the park are, how natural and laconic the furniture forms are, how natural the colors are, how cozy and comfortable you feel here.

23.

24. Remember the vase I talked about the happy acquisition of recently? Aalto means wave in Finnish. The undulating forms of Finnish lakes and shores, clearly visible in the photograph, are embodied in the design of a cult piece of furniture.

25. Drawings.

26. Library.

27. Living room at home. Armchairs upholstered in a zebra design from 1936 are still available in Artek stores for only 3,800 euros apiece. On the table is the same vase.

28. The living room is decorated with originals by Le Corbusier and Fernand Léger.

29. Lamp designed by Aalto, 1953.

30. Serving table, 1936 design. 1800 euros in any Artek store.

31. Aalto vase, produced under the Iittala brand. 120-160 euros depending on color and size.

32. Dining room.

33. Living room on the second floor. How I love those windows that take up half the wall!

34. Shelves designed by Aalto, model 1936.

35. Bedroom of Alvar and his wife. The architect was married twice and both of his wives worked with him. A minimum of decor, a maximum of functionality - I love such rooms and at home I strive for a minimum number of things, at least those that are in plain sight.

36. Bathroom. The sinks were designed by Aalto for the Paimio Sanatorium. Two sinks, and ideally two bathrooms, both adjoining the bedroom, is my dream. In the new apartment, the layout did not allow organizing the space in such a way, but, I hope, we have a house ahead of us and there I will turn around.

37. And even the handles in this house are attractive. Vapaa means "free" in Finnish.

38. If you are interested in design and architecture, but Aalto’s studio and house is the first place you should go to in Helsinki and only then, inspired and learning more about the principles of the cult architect’s work, walk around the city and notice Aalto’s iconic details in the most famous buildings in the capital of Finland.

To plan visits to the most famous houses, studios and objects of great architects, it is convenient to use iconichouses.com. Use on health!

The specialized museum of design and architecture of the father of Northern European modernism Alvar Aalto in the city of Jyväskylä is one of the most interesting museums in this city. To get acquainted with the works of this great architect and designer, you can not only visit the museum located at Alvar Aallon katu 7, but also take a walk around Jyväskylä: more than 20 buildings in this city were built according to his designs.

You can visit the Alvaro Aalto Museum during a trip to Finland. Many have already checked for themselves the fact that Finland for the weekend is an ideal holiday destination. Moreover, you can get to the most beautiful places in Finland, including Jyväskylä, in just a few hours by train, bus or car from St. Petersburg, or even by plane from Helsinki. Jyväskylä can also be reached in just 3 hours by high-speed train from Helsinki or directly by bus from St. Petersburg in just 10 hours.

The main exposition of this amazing museum is called “Alvar Aalto. The Architect” will introduce the life of Alvar Hugo Henrik Aalto, a remarkable person, a talented architect and designer, who fell on the difficult time of Finland’s struggle for independence, as well as the First and Second World Wars. The architect lived for 78 years from 1898 to 1976. Alvar Aalto fell in love with nature from childhood, tried to treat it reverently, as the architect grew up surrounded by Finnish nature, in the family of a forester. The tree became his favorite material for creativity.

Most of his creations were brought to life in Jyväskylä. In 1923, Alvar Aalto, 2 years after graduating from university, traveling around Europe and participating in an exhibition in Tampere, opened his design workshop in Jyväskylä. One of his first and most striking works in the neoclassical style was the Workers' Club in Jyväskylä, erected in the early years of his creative workshop, in 1923-1925.

In the work of Alvar Aalto, the so-called "red" and "white" periods are distinguished. The architect was always looking for an opportunity to harmonize all the elements of his buildings with nature, he chose the lighting design of interiors for a long time. His buildings of the "white" period are considered to be the real embodiment of the "spirit of the North", and the red buildings look especially impressive in winter, joyfully and brightly filling the space in which they are always organically inscribed by the author. Alvar Aalto also worked in the style of functionalism, designing dormitories, "minimal" housing, more than ten hotels, country cottages and campsites were built in Jyväskylä according to his projects. One of the most unusual creations of Alvar Aalto in Jyväskylä is the dacha he designed and built together with his wife - the Experimental House in Muuratsalo, which can be visited three times a week with a guided tour, by appointment.

Buildings designed by Alvar Aalto can be found in Helsinki, Vyborg, USA. One of his most famous creations was the snow-white Finlandia Palace in Helsinki, similar in shape to a piano.

It is not enough to see Alvar Aalto's creations from the side, because the architect designed the buildings completely: both outside and inside, everything to the smallest detail, including lamps, furniture, vases and ashtrays. Alvar Aalto's production of lighting fixtures is still running today, and a film about this production can be seen in the museum's cinema hall.

In addition to the permanent exhibition, the museum always presents the works of other designers at temporary exhibitions, as well as the events of the modern world of design and architecture. Museum tours are conducted not only in Finnish, but also in Russian, Spanish and English, at the request of the group. In addition to the museum tour, you can always book a tour of other Aalto sites.

Museum opening hours: from 11 am to 6 pm on weekdays.

Today, February 3, marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of, perhaps, the main Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto. Buro 24/7 talks about Aalto's work principles and achievements.

Who is Alvar Aalto

Alvar Aalto is considered to be one of the greatest architects and designers of the 20th century. In architecture, he managed to combine functional modernism with humanism, which distinguishes his buildings from the cold rationality of constructivism. In addition, Aalto worked a lot with furniture, inventing more efficient ways of making it, which allowed him to begin mass production of his products and make them more affordable.

Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was born in Kuortane in southern Finland in 1898. In 1916, Aalto entered the Helsinki Polytechnic Institute to study architecture (Le Corbusier, by the way, did not receive a specialized architectural education). In 1918, Aalto interrupted his studies due to the Finnish Civil War and himself went into the army of the “whites” (the bourgeois-democratic forces of the Finnish Senate), and after the end of the conflict he returned to student life.

After graduating from the university, he opened his own architectural office in 1923, and in 1927 he moved it to the city of Turku. Finland was in the midst of a building boom that began after the First World War, which catalyzed fresh ideas among young people in Western Europe. In Turku, Aalto and several other young architects began to bring new concepts to life, overcoming the prejudices and habits established in society.

Architecture

During his half-century career, Aalto designed about five dozen buildings, and if we take into account his bureau, even more. His style changed over time from the northern neoclassicism of the 1920s to the functionalism of his later period, but he always remained faithful to the principle of the Gesamtkunstwerk, that is, he perceived each building he worked on as an absolute work of art and thought over not only its appearance and engineering design, but also the interior down to the smallest detail.

Aalto always thought about the purpose that the structure should serve, and proceeded from this, but was opposed to naked functionalism, which often forgot about the psychological comfort of a person. Aalto's works are never redundant, they are always made in such a way as to exactly fit their purpose. He created spaces filled with natural daylight. Aalto's followers and researchers note his phenomenal sense of nature, human psychology and space.

main buildings

Sanatorium in Paimio (1933)

The architects of Western Europe influenced Aalto quite strongly at the beginning of his career, and the building of the sanatorium is reminiscent of the principles of Le Corbusier. When working on this building, Aalto first of all thought about its functionality and made sure that the patients of the sanatorium were comfortable in it.

Library in Vyborg (1935)

The library in Vyborg was Aalto's first project, but work on it was delayed: starting in 1927, the architect could not bring his idea to life, because the clergy and local residents opposed the construction, as they were not ready for too modern architecture. Aalto took advantage of the fact that the project was delayed, improved it and worked in more detail.

Villa Mairea (1939)

Aalto designed this mansion for a family of collectors and art lovers and Finnish high society. The architect was guided by natural forms and used one of his favorite materials for decoration - wood.

Finnish Pavilion at the International Exhibition in New York (1939)

Aalto most often built in his native Finland, and this is one of the reasons why his name has not thundered all over the world. If he built more often in other countries, they would talk about him much more. The Finnish pavilion at the International Exhibition in New York made a splash, and the reviews wrote that only a genius could create this building.

MIT campus in Massachusetts (1948)

After World War II, Aalto left to work and teach in the United States, and one of the traces of his stay there was the campus of the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which, according to architectural critics, still serves its intended purpose perfectly.

Palace "Finland" (1971)

This is one of the main cultural centers of Finland, located in Helsinki. The building has several concert halls, exhibition spaces and conference rooms. The snow-white building is located on the shore of Töölönlahti bay.

Alvar Aalto University in Espoo (1974)

The Otaniemi campus today serves as the building of Aalto University. Built by the great architect using his other favorite material - brick - was restored in 2015.

Church of the Riola in Vergato (1978)

The Riola Church is perhaps Aalto's main project in the direction of religious architecture. When creating the church, Aalto focused on the surrounding mountain landscape and linked the building forms with it.

Furniture

Following the idea of ​​the Gezamtkunstwerk, Aalto worked on his projects inside as well, creating interiors for them. One of the consequences of this approach was the Artek furniture brand, created with the participation of Aalto. Aalto's furniture reflects his architectural principles - functionality, conciseness and humanism. A feature of Aalto's thinking was that he created furniture for specific purposes - for relaxation, for reading, in order to preen at the mirror.

Aalto worked a lot with wood, a traditional Finnish material. He studied the properties of wood and carefully considered how to fit it into his aesthetic views. Today, we use many of Aalto's ideas and achievements, leaving only seven patents left for his innovative ideas for making furniture. For example, it was he who figured out how to bend wood and used it to create his iconic Stoll 60 stool.

The development of factory production allowed Aalto to mass-produce his standardized furniture models. He distributed these products through his Artek brand, which can perhaps be considered the forerunner of IKEA.

Paimio Chair (1932)

Aalto created special chairs for the sanatorium in Paimio. First of all, he was concerned that the furniture was comfortable for patients, like all the building he invented.

Stool 60 (1933)

The iconic stool was made by Aalto in the 1930s when he figured out how to bend wood to create these legs. Prior to that, he used metal in the manufacture of furniture, because he could not achieve such curves with wood. These stools were used in the Vyborg library as additional seating. Stool 60 are convenient in that they can be stacked on top of each other, which allows better use of space.

Aalto Vase (1936)

Glass was one of Aalto's favorite materials: in architecture he combined it with wood, and in furniture design he used it for household utensils.

Armchair 400 (1936)

Having come up with a chair model, Aalto worked on its variations. This was very convenient, because it made it easy to meet the growing demand for variety from a society that had begun to move towards an ever-increasing consumption.

Floor Lamp A 805 (1956)

Aalto preferred diffused light for its softness - and this is exactly what the floor lamp he invented gives.