Profile | Alvar Aalto

"Nothing is as dangerous in architecture as dealing with separated problems. If we split life into separated problems we split the possibilities to make good building art."

- Alvar Aalto

Today marks the birth of the eminent Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto (1898–1976), a central figure in shaping a distinctly humanistic approach to modernism.

Designing everything from private houses to major public commissions, Aalto developed a modern language rooted in contemporary materials, open-plan living and the principle of form following function while always maintaining a profound connection to nature. Landmark works such as Paimio Sanatorium (1933), Viipuri Library (1935), and Villa Mairea (1939) exemplify his belief that architecture should respond to human needs, sensory experience and the surrounding landscape.

In the post-war years, Aalto’s vision expanded to civic and cultural institutions, including Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Säynätsalo Town Hall, Baker House at MIT in Cambridge, and the Church of the Three Crosses in Imatra, projects that demonstrate his mastery of scale, materiality and spatial rhythm while retaining an intimate, humane character.

In the late 1920s, Aalto began experimenting with the structural and aesthetic possibilities of bent wood. In collaboration with furniture manufacturer Otto Korhonen, he pioneered a groundbreaking bending technique that led to the creation of the now-iconic L-leg. This patented innovation enabled a new level of standardisation and versatility, forming the basis for over 50 furniture designs, including the enduring Stool 60 and Chair 69, icons of democratic, functional design.

It was characteristic of Aalto to conceive projects as complete, holistic environments, designing not only the buildings themselves but also the furniture, lighting and interior details within them. This philosophy culminated in the founding of Artek in 1935, alongside his wife and fellow architect Aino Marsio-Aalto, artist Maire Gullichsen, and art historian and critic Nils-Gustav Hahl. The company, its name derived from art and technology, was established to produce furniture, lighting and textiles that were innovative, functional, aesthetically refined and suitable for mass production.

Alvar Aalto’s legacy is both extensive and enduring. His architecture and objects continue to influence design worldwide, and many of his most celebrated works remain in production today, timeless expressions of modernism shaped by humanity, material intelligence and a deep respect for nature.

Discover Alvar Aalto's designs here.