Alvar Aalto, 1898-1976
Paraiso Para Gente Modesta
Overview
Finnish architect Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) was not only influenced by the landscape of his native country, but by the political struggle over Finland’s place within European culture. After early neoclassical buildings, Alvar Aalto turned to ideas based on Functionalism, subsequently moving toward more organic structures, with brick and wood replacing plaster and steel. In addition to designing buildings, furniture, lamps, and glass objects with his wife Aino, he painted and was an avid traveler. Basic Architecture features - Each title contains approximately 120 images, including photographs, sketches, drawings, and floor plans; - Introductory essays explore the architect’s life and work, touching on family and background as well as collaborations with other architects; - The body presents the most important works in chronological order, with descriptions of client and/or architect wishes, construction problems (why some projects were never executed), and resolutions; - The appendix includes a list of complete or selected works, biography, bibliography and a map indicating the locations of the architect’s most famous buildings.
