Alvar Aalto (1930/1939)Alvar Aalto Foundation
Discover the work of one of the most important architects of the 20th century
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto, AKA Alvar Aalto, was one of the most important Finnish architects of the 20th century and a pioneer of modern architecture and design. After qualifying as an architect from Helsinki Institute of Technology in 1921, Aalto set up his first architectural practice in Jyväskylä.
His early works fell under the style Nordic Classicism, a style of architecture that blossomed in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland between 1910 and 1930. In the late 1920s and 30s, Aalto made a number of journeys to Europe with his first wife, Aino Marsio, a fellow architect and soon became familiar with the latests trends in Modernism.
Aalto adopted a Modernist aesthetic in his buildings, and the style was often characterized by asymmetrical compositions, flat roofs, use of reinforced concrete, a lack of ornament or moldings, and a leaning towards white or cream finishes. This led Aalto toward a path of functionalism, an architectural principle that suggests buildings should be designed solely for the purpose and function of the building.
The architect’s style developed over the years, but the constant in his career was a concern for design as a Gesamtkunstwerk, a “total work of art”: Aalto would not design just the building, but also give special treatments to the interior surfaces and design furniture, lamps, and glassware. Here we take a tour of some of Aalto’s most successful projects and discover why his passion for creating buildings means he’s still one of the most revered of architects.
Alvar Aalto (From the collection of the Alvar Aalto Foundation)
Central City Alvar Aalto Library Vyborg Library, Vyborg, Russia
Located in Vyborg, Russia, this library was built from 1927 to 1935, and is one Aalto's most internationally acclaimed designs. It has become a major example of 1920s functionalist architectural design and is considered one of the first manifestations of "regional Modernism".
The library is famous for its wave-shaped ceiling in the auditorium, though externally the building has a flat roof. The shape of the ceiling was informed by acoustic studies Aalto had researched. On completion the library was known as Viipuri Library, but after the Second World War and Soviet annexation, the library was renamed the Nadezha Krupskaya Municipal Library. Today, integrated in the Russian Federation city of Vybord, the library is officially known as the Central City Alvar Aalto Library.
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House of Culture, Helsinki, Finland
Originally built as the headquarters for the Finnish Communist Party in 1955, the House of Culture has since established itself as one of Helsinki’s most popular concert venues.
The House of Culture represents the pinnacle of Alvar Aalto’s work with red brick architecture in the 1950s. It comprises a rectilinear copper office block, a curved brick auditorium, and a long canopy that binds them together.
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Studio Aalto, Helsinki, Finland
Aalto designed his studio during 1955-56 and it was to be the base of his architect bureau. Located in the Tiilimäki neighborhood of Munkkiniemi, Helsinki, the space was created to meet the high number of commissions Aalto and his team were receiving. The studio is thought to be one of his best buildings from the 1950s.
Aalto was once quoted as saying: “Architectural art cannot be created in an office-like environment”, so as a result the building does not look like a conventional office space building. The façade is built in plain style, in white-painted, lightly rendered brickwork. The closed-in mass of the building conceals a garden shaped like an amphitheater in its inner courtyard. Aalto ran the office until his death in 1976 and it is now under the custodianship of the Alvar Aalto Foundation, which has opened up the space as a museum.
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Lakeuden Risti Church, Seinäjoki, Finland
Lakeuden Risti Church was built between 1957 and 1960. It was the first finished building of the larger administrative and civic center also planned by Aalto. The cathedral-like building seats 1,200 people in the hall and 124 in the organ gallery.
Aalto designed the church interior from start to finish, including the door handles, lighting, and pews. The overall look of Lakeuden Risti is simple, without excessive decoration. The lighting relies on the natural light flooding through the windows, a key feature of many Aalto buildings. The impressive cross-shaped bell tower of Lakeuden Risti is the best-known landmark of Seinäjoki.
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Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, Finland
Finlandia Hall is a congress and event venue in the centre of Helsinki. Designed by Aalto in 1962, building took place between 1967 and 1971. The main feature of the hall is its tower-like section with a sloping roof. The architect’s idea behind the design was that a high empty space would provide better acoustics. A lattice ceiling hides the space from visitors but allows the same echo as tall church towers.
Aalto used marble in both indoor and outdoor surfaces as a contrast to black granite. For him, marble was a reference to Mediterranean culture, which he wanted to bring back to Finland. The interior design of Finlandia Hall is a tribute to detail and Aalto designed each piece of furniture and chose the flooring. All the materials used speak the language of nature and this is because Aalto’s basic view was that architecture should create a frame for human beings. In the Finlandia Hall, the focus is not on extraordinary forms or ostentatious interior – it is on the audience and on the performers.
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Kunsten Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg, Denmark
The Kunsten Museum of Modern Art Aalborg was built between 1968 and 1972 by Aalto, who was assisted by his architect and second wife Elissa, along with Danish architect Jean-Jacques Baruël. The museum showcases 20th-century Danish and international art.
It is the only museum building outside Finland designed by Aalto. The museum is built of striking white marble, a style that is continued inside with stunning marble flooring and copper lamps, also designed by Aalto.
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Aalto Theatre, Essen, Germany
The Aalto Theatre, officially the Aalto-Musiktheater Essen was completed in 1988, 29 years after Aalto first drew the design. Aalto’s design won a competition in 1959, and he went on to rework the plan at the city building committee's request from 1961 right up to his death.
In 1983, seven years after Aalto’s death, building began on the theater under the supervision of the German architect Harald Deilmann, mainly on the basis of drawings left by Aalto. A feature of the auditorium's design is its asymmetrical layout, subtle sloping roof, and the indigo blue color of the seats.
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