"If we accept the theory of design that the form of an article should be determined by its use we have gone some way towards appreciating the work of Finland's most distinguished architect, Alvar Aalto, but that simple definition of functionalism does not reveal the depth of Aalto's artistic achievement. Functionalism was a phase in his career, a step on the way to his expression of the organic relationship between man, nature and buildings. It was Aalto's ability to coordinate those three components that discloses the beauty of his work. Aalto spoke of his art (building art he called it) as a synthesis of life in materialised form."
"Alvar Aalto was born in 1898 in the village of Kuortane, situated between the lake country of central Finland and the flat farmlands of the western province of Ostrobothnia. He was the eldest of three children in a family that belonged to the middle class of municipal civil servants. His father was a surveyor. When Aalto was five the family moved to Jyväskylä, a town that will forever be associated with his name. It was to be his home for the next 24 years and contains more of his buildings than any other place in the world. He designed 70 buildings for the town and its surroundings, 37 of which were realised. After leaving school Aalto went on to study at the Helsinki University of Technology where he graduated with a degree in architecture in 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 Aaltofor the rest of his life."
As a professional in the building industry, we want to keep you informed about the most recent developments regarding building codes, building technology, CAD developments, and more. The Noble Architect is published biweekly and reaches thousands of building professionals like you in the United States and around the world. All rights reserved.