University of Kufa

Faculty of Engineering
Department of Architecture

Alvaro Aalto
Architect

Life(1898 -1976). Work: sculptor, designer and painter.

Prepared for subject:

Principles of Art and Architecture

Prepared by:
Safaa Mohammed
First year

Supervised by:
Dr. Aqeel Qusay

March 2019
 Contents

Chapter 1
 Introduction……………………………………………….2
 Background…………………………………………………2
 Early life and education……………………………...3

Chapter 2
 Career………………………………………………………….4
 Work……………………………………………………………4
 Profession…………………………………………………..4

Chapter 3
 Architectural Style………………………………………5
 Architectural School……………………………………5

Chapter 4
 Most important buildings……………………………6
 Most important projects……….……………………7
 Most important achievements………………..….9

Chapter 5
 Legacy………………………………………………………..10

 References………………………………………………….11

Contents 1
 Chapter 1

Introduction & background

Introduction
Alvar Aalto was born in 1898, and studied
architecture at the University of Helsinki.
He was an architect, sculptor, designer and
Finnish painter, one of the greatest in his
time. His career spanning fifty years has
included many designs, such as buildings,
furniture, sculptures, paintings and
jewelry.

Fig.1, Alvar Aalto,

1898-1976.
Background
Where he is considered the most important
architect in the history of Finland, his designs,
Alvar relied on natural organic matter and self-
expression, and he was interested in the interior
decoration of the buildings as well as the
outside. Alvaro Alto in Scandinavian societies is
considered the Father of the art of modernity.

Chapter 1 2
 Chapter 1

Early life & education

Early life & Education

When Aalto was 5 years old, the family moved to Alajärvi, and from there to
Jyväskylä. He studied at the Jyväskylä Lyceum school, where he completed his
basic education in 1916, and took drawing lessons. In 1916, he then enrolled to
study architecture at the Helsinki University of Technology. His studies were
interrupted by the Finnish Civil War.
He continued his education, graduating in 1921.

Fig.2, Alvar Aalto,

1898-1976.

Chapter 1 3
 Chapter 2

Work & career

Work
Aalto began working while he was still a student. He began as an apprentice of
Finnish architect, professor and painter, Armas Lingren. He also worked to
design buildings for the ‘Tivoli’ region for the 1920 National Fair under Carolus
Lindberg.
His work was described at the New York World Exposition as "a genius
Career...”.

Career & Profession Fig.3, Villa Mairea,

Aalto career can be divided into five major parts. Noormarkku, 1939.
 Classicism
 Functionalism
 Experimentation
 Monumentalism
 Furniture career
Starting his early career with classicism and functionalism, his mid-career with
experimentation, and his mature career with monumentalism and furniture.

Chapter 2 4
 Chapter 3

Architectural style & Architectural school

Architectural style & Architectural school

Aalto was part of the Modern Movement of Architecture, but he developed his
own style, based on modernist architecture combined with the usage of local
materials and his own personal expression. The span of his career, from the
1920s to the 1970s, is reflected in the styles of his work, ranging from Nordic
Classicism of the early work, to a rational International Style Modernism during
the 1930s to a more organic modernist style from the 1940s onwards.

Fig.4, Aalto-Theater,
Germany, 1988.

Chapter 3 5
 Chapter 4

Most important buildings

The most important buildings

The ‘Southwestern Finland Agricultural Cooperative Building’, which
fetched him his first award, propelled his career.
The Paimio Sanatorium, completed in 1932, is a former sanatorium for
tuberculosis. This building raised Aalto to the status of master of heroic
functionalism.

Fig.5, Paimio Sanatorium,

Finland, 1929.

Chapter 4 6
 Chapter 4

Most important buildings

Fig.6, Villa Mairea,

Noormarkku, 1939.

Fig.7, Villa Mairea

interior.

Chapter 4 7
 Chapter 4

Most important buildings

Fig.8, Finlandia Hall, Finland, 1967.

Chapter 4 8
 Chapter 4

Most important buildings

The most important achivements

He received the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal
Institute of British Architects.
He was also recognized by the United States for his
services.

Fig.9, Southwestern Finland Agricultural

Cooperative Building, Finland, 1927.

Chapter 4 9
 Chapter 5

Legacy

Legacy
His most recent structure for the Art Museum in Jyvaskyla was
named after him. The museum specializes in architecture and
design and is known today as 'The Alvar Aalto Museum.'

He is quoted as stating, “The very essence of architecture

consists of a variety and development reminiscent of natural
organic life. This is the only true style in architecture”.

Fig.10, The Alvar Aalto Museum, Denmark, 1958.

Chapter 5 10
 References

https://en.wikipedia.org
https://www.architecturaldigest.in
http://www.archipicture.eu
http://www.thefamouspeople.com

References 11