Alvar Aalto

Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto (February 3, 1898 - May 11, 1976) was a Finnish architect and designer.

Life and works

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Alvar Aalto was born in Kuortane, Finland. He studied architecture at the Helsinki University of Technology from 1916 to 1921. He returned to Jyväskylä, where 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 Aalto for the rest of his life.

Related Topics:
Kuortane - Finland - Helsinki University of Technology - 1916 - 1921 - Jyväskylä - 1923 - Aino Marsio - Italy - Mediterranean

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Aalto's wide field of activity ranged from furniture and glassware designs to architecture and painting. His vase designs are world-famous. Aalto furniture is manufactured by Artek, a company Aalto co-founded. Aalto glassware (Aino as well as Alvar) is manufactured by iittala.

Related Topics:
Furniture - Glassware - Architecture - Painting - Artek - Iittala

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Significant buildings

Furniture and glassware

• 1932: Paimio Chair http://www.artek.fi/en/products.html?Id=41
• Furniture collection for the Viipuri library
• 1933 Three-legged stacking Stool 60 http://www.artek.fi/en/products.html?Id=60
• 1933 Four-legged Stool E60 http://www.artek.fi/en/products.html?Id=E60
• 1939 Armchair 406 http://www.artek.fi/en/products.html?Id=406
• Lamps
• 1954 Floor lamp A805 http://www.artek.fi/en/products.html?Id=A805
• 1959 Floor lamp A810 http://www.artek.fi/en/products.html?Id=A810
• 1936: Aalto Vase