Alvar Aalto - Miscellaneous, Birthday and Life
Alvar Aalto's Personal Details
Alvar Aalto was a Finnish architect, designer, sculptor and painter
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | February 3, 1898 |
| Died on | May 11, 1976 |
| Nationality | Finns |
| Famous | Architects, Sculptors, Miscellaneous |
| Spouses | Aino Aalto, Elissa Aalto |
| Known as | Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto |
| Childrens | Johanna |
| Universities |
|
| Founder / Co-Founder |
|
| Birth Place | Kuortane |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Johan Henrik Aalto |
| Mother | Selma Matilda Hackstedt |
| Sun Sign | Aquarius |
| Born in | Kuortane |
| Famous as | Architect |
| Died at Age | 78 |
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Alvar Aalto's photo
Who is Alvar Aalto?
Alvar Aalto was a Finnish architect, designer, sculptor and painter. He is considered as one of the great leaders of planning, as well as a key advocate of midcentury modernism. His fifty-year career included work in the fields of furniture, textiles, painting, sculpting, landscape, urban planning, glassware, and jewelry. He was Finland’s most notable architect. His high stature was a result of his humanistic approach to modernism--a mixture of organic resources, self-expression, and fresh progression. His main objective was to create an overall work of art. Aalto did not merely design buildings but also gave much consideration to their interior elements, such as light fixtures, glassware scheme, and furniture. He redesigned architecture and the furniture of public structures by placing reliance upon the foundation of performance and man’s relationship with organic forms--using natural surroundings as a starting point for projects. He is known for contributing his alternative technique to the machine-age-governed detachment, visual tedium, and structural monotony of international style during the midcentury. As such, in Scandinavian communities, he is referred to as the “Father of Modernism.”
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Childhood & Early Life
Aalto was born Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto, in the small town of Kuortane, Finland, on February 3, 1898. He was one of the first of three children born to Johan Henrik Aalto, a surveyor, and Selma (Selly) Mathilda Hackestedt.
His mother Selma died in 1903 when Alvar was just five. His father Johan remarried and relocated his family to Jyvaskyla, where Aalto would attend school and go on surveying trips with his father during the summer.
Graduating from the Jyvaskyla Lyceum in 1916, he moved to Helsinki. From there he went on to receive excellent grades in architecture at the only Finnish school for architecture (now the Helsinki University of technology).
Finland was the first republic to declare its independence from Russia after the Russian Revolution. Alto also served in the Finnish National Militia during the Civil War that ensued until 1918.
By 1921, he was a trained architect with a graduate degree and two years later, set up office in Jyvaskyla. He hired and married his assistant and fellow architect, Aino Marsio. Their honeymoon in Italy had a profound impact on his Nordic understanding and creativity that lasted the rest of his career.
Career
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.
In 1922-1923, he collaborated with A. Bjerke on the design of the Congress Hall for the 1923 Goteborg World Fair. He also designed many structures for the Tampere Industrial Fair.
In 1927, he and his wife, Aino Marsio moved to Turku after Aalto won 1st place for the ‘Southwestern Finland Agricultural Cooperative Building.’ There, he proceeded to design the ‘Paimio Sanatorium.’
In 1933, he founded his architectural firm, ‘Artek,’ through which he worked on numerous major international contracts. Over the next four decades, he worked on buildings for multiple World Fairs and several masterpieces across the globe.
In addition to offering architect services, his company ‘Artek’ also sold furniture and other imported products. He also became the first furniture designer to apply the cantilever principle using wood in chair designs.
In 1938, his organic integration of man, buildings, and nature evolved. The result was his design of the most prestigious ‘Villa Mairea’ in Noormarkku.
His second wife, Elsa-Kaisa (Elissa) Mankiniemi, also his colleague, assisted in building the ‘Muuratsalo Experiemental House’ as their summer villa.
He was still actively working through the early 1970s. After his death, his office continued to complete his unfinished works, under his widow Elissa’s management. His office continues to operate as a restoration service of Aalto’s buildings.
Major Works
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.
Awards & Achievements
He received the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects.
He was also recognized by the United States for his services. In 1963, he was awarded the Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects.
Personal Life & Legacy
Alvar Aalto married Aina in 1924. They had two children together: a son named Hamikar and a daughter named Johanna “Hanni” Alanen. In 1949, she died of cancer.
He married Elissa in 1952 and the couple remained married till his death in 1976.
He died on May 11, 1976 in Helsinki, Finland.
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.”
Trivia
Frank Lloyd Wright described Aalto's design at the New York’s World Fair - the Finnish Pavilion was a “work of genius.”
His picture was printed on the final series of the 50 Finnish mark bill. This occurred before changing to the Euro
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Alvar Aalto's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | Alvar Aalto Medal - 1967 | |
| 0 | Royal Gold Medal - 1957 | |
| 0 | IA Gold Medal - 1963 | |
Alvar Aalto biography timelines
- // 3rd Feb 1898Aalto was born Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto, in the small town of Kuortane, Finland, on February 3, 1898. He was one of the first of three children born to Johan Henrik Aalto, a surveyor, and Selma (Selly) Mathilda Hackestedt.
- // 1903His mother Selma died in 1903 when Alvar was just five. His father Johan remarried and relocated his family to Jyvaskyla, where Aalto would attend school and go on surveying trips with his father during the summer.
- // 1916Graduating from the Jyvaskyla Lyceum in 1916, he moved to Helsinki. From there he went on to receive excellent grades in architecture at the only Finnish school for architecture (now the Helsinki University of technology).
- // 1918Finland was the first republic to declare its independence from Russia after the Russian Revolution. Alto also served in the Finnish National Militia during the Civil War that ensued until 1918.
- // 1920Aalto 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.
- // 1921By 1921, he was a trained architect with a graduate degree and two years later, set up office in Jyvaskyla. He hired and married his assistant and fellow architect, Aino Marsio. Their honeymoon in Italy had a profound impact on his Nordic understanding and creativity that lasted the rest of his career.
- // 1922 To 1923In 1922-1923, he collaborated with A. Bjerke on the design of the Congress Hall for the 1923 Goteborg World Fair. He also designed many structures for the Tampere Industrial Fair.
- // 1924 To 1949Alvar Aalto married Aina in 1924. They had two children together: a son named Hamikar and a daughter named Johanna “Hanni” Alanen. In 1949, she died of cancer.
- // 1927In 1927, he and his wife, Aino Marsio moved to Turku after Aalto won 1st place for the ‘Southwestern Finland Agricultural Cooperative Building.’ There, he proceeded to design the ‘Paimio Sanatorium.’
- // 1932The Paimio Sanatorium, completed in 1932, is a former sanatorium for tuberculosis. This building raised Aalto to the status of master of heroic functionalism.
- // 1933In 1933, he founded his architectural firm, ‘Artek,’ through which he worked on numerous major international contracts. Over the next four decades, he worked on buildings for multiple World Fairs and several masterpieces across the globe.
- // 1938In 1938, his organic integration of man, buildings, and nature evolved. The result was his design of the most prestigious ‘Villa Mairea’ in Noormarkku.
- // 1952 To 1976He married Elissa in 1952 and the couple remained married till his death in 1976.
- // 1963He was also recognized by the United States for his services. In 1963, he was awarded the Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects.
- // 11th May 1976He died on May 11, 1976 in Helsinki, Finland.
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Alvar Aalto's FAQ
What is Alvar Aalto birthday?
Alvar Aalto was born at 1898-02-03
When was Alvar Aalto died?
Alvar Aalto was died at 1976-05-11
Where was Alvar Aalto died?
Alvar Aalto was died in Helsinki
Which age was Alvar Aalto died?
Alvar Aalto was died at age 78
Where is Alvar Aalto's birth place?
Alvar Aalto was born in Kuortane
What is Alvar Aalto nationalities?
Alvar Aalto's nationalities is Finns
Who is Alvar Aalto spouses?
Alvar Aalto's spouses is Aino Aalto, Elissa Aalto
Who is Alvar Aalto childrens?
Alvar Aalto's childrens is Johanna
What was Alvar Aalto universities?
Alvar Aalto studied at 1921 - Helsinki University of Technology
Which company or organization was founded by Alvar Aalto?
Alvar Aalto was the founder/co-founder of Artek
Who is Alvar Aalto's father?
Alvar Aalto's father is Johan Henrik Aalto
Who is Alvar Aalto's mother?
Alvar Aalto's mother is Selma Matilda Hackstedt
What is Alvar Aalto's sun sign?
Alvar Aalto is Aquarius
How famous is Alvar Aalto?
Alvar Aalto is famouse as Architect