Mid 20th century furniture by Alvar Aalto (Finland)

Alvar Aalto (1898 – 1976) was a Finish architect and designer.

His designs encompass His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware.

He developed numerous designs for moulded laminated timber (plywood) during the 1930s, including a revolutionary L-shaped leg that was used in much of his furniture.

The success of these designs enabled him and his wife Aino to found the furniture manufacturing company Artek in Helsinki in 1935.

Aalto glassware is manufactured by Iittala.

Aalto’s work, which was well received in Britain and America during the 1930s and ’40s, was produced by Finmar, a British subsidiary, and later more... by Artek-Pascoe in New York. Artek also began production in Sweden when exports from Finland to America were prohibited during World War II. less...

Alvar Aalto was born in Kuortane, Finland, in 1898. He studied architecture at the Helsinki University of Technology, graduating in 1921. After graduating, he worked in the offices of several architects before opening his own practice in 1923.

His early work was influenced by the International Style, but he soon developed his own unique style, which combined elements of functionalism and organicism.

Alvar Aalto's architecture is also characterized by its organic forms and its integration with nature. In the early years of his career, Aalto worked in Jyväskylä, Finland, and designed a number of buildings that showcased a blend more... of classical and modernist architectural elements. Aalto's breakthrough came with the Paimio Sanatorium (1932), a tuberculosis sanatorium in Finland. This project demonstrated his innovative use of materials, particularly in furniture design, as he developed the iconic Paimio Chair. Aalto gained international recognition with his design for the Finnish Pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair and the Villa Mairea (1937), which is considered one of his masterpieces. His most famous work is the Viipuri Library (now known as the Vyborg Library) in Vyborg, Russia, designed in 1935. This library showcases Aalto's innovative use of organic forms and natural materials.

Alvar Aalto's influence extended beyond architecture into furniture and glassware design, and he is known for creating timeless pieces like the Aalto Chair (also known as the "L-leg" chair), the Paimio Armchair and the Stool 60, His furniture designs are characterized by their simple, curvilinear forms. His glassware designs, such as the Aalto Vase and the Savoy Vase, are also notable for their organic shapes. While Alvar Aalto did contribute to glassware design, his reputation primarily rests on his architectural and furniture designs.

He received numerous awards and honors during his lifetime, including the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Gold Medal in 1957 and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Gold Medal in 1963. The Alvar Aalto Museum in Jyväskylä, Finland, is dedicated to preserving his legacy and showcasing his contributions to design.

In addition to architecture and design, Aalto was also a painter and sculptor. He was a member of the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts and was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland in 1967. He died in Helsinki in 1976. less...