ALVAR AALTO. Sofia Boschetti Giorgia Zini Liceo Artistico A. Venturi 5H Architettura e Ambiente

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1 ALVAR AALTO Sofia Boschetti Giorgia Zini Liceo Artistico A. Venturi 5H Architettura e Ambiente

2 Alvar Aalto was born in Finland in His father was a topographer and his mother was a postman. Alvar graduated in Jyväskylä, then studied architecture at the Helsinki University of Technology and graduated as an architect in He tried to be successful in the capital but he didn t succeed, then returned to Jyväskylä, where he opened an architectural firm. In his studio he met Aino Marsio who later became his wife. He had with her two children, and projects were signed by Alvar and his wife. ALVAR AALTO

3 In 1933 he moved to Helsinki, where he designed his own house, which is today Alvar Aalto s seat of the foundation ( Alvar Aallon Säätiö ). He restored the Finnish pavilions of various exhibitions in Europe and in 1940 was invited to teach in Massachusetts in Cambridge at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

4 In 1949 he became a widower and married Elissa Mäkiniemi. Since then he began to work outside of Finland, especially in Germany and Italy. In 1957 he received the gold medal from the Royal Institute of British architects and a degree from the Politecnico in Milan. In 1976 Aalto completed his latest work, the University of the Design of Reykjavik, Iceland. He died in Helsinki in 1976.

5 ALVAR AALTO'S WORKS: He was also a painter and sculptor. One of his most important works is the "Vaso Savoy, whose shapes and curves refer to the Finnish countryside and its lakes. Aalto is considered one of the greatest exponents of Nordic modernism. Actually he moves away from rationalism inserting asymmetrical, curved walls or round shapes. In fact his last name in Finnish means " wave".

6 Some of the main works are : -the House of the People in Jyväskylä -the Viipuri Library -the theater of Torku -the Sanatorium of Paimio.

7 TRAVELLING TRIPS Since he moved to Massachusetts, after the Construction of the Student House (Baker House) he dedicated himself to working on long term projects such as the current area Polytechnic University of Espoo. Finally the major works abroad are located in Germany, Italy and Denmark. In Germany Aalto designed the Cultural Centre in Wolfsburg and the Opera of Essen; in Italy the Riola church in Bologna; The Nordic House in Reykjavik and the Art Museum in Aalborg, Denmark.

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9 PAIMIO SANATORIUM ALVAR AALTO

10 The spread of tuberculosis in Finland between the wars led to the construction of a number of sanatoria throughout the country. Paimio was chosen as the location for the sanatorium and there was a competition for its design, which was resolved at the end of January Alvar Aalto took part in the competition using a drawing of a window as a pseudonym. Aalto's proposal was placed first out of the 13 entries that were submitted. THE STORY

11 FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION: In Aalto's entry for this competition, the buildings were grouped in a Neo-Classical manner with sun balconies representing a more modern architectural approach. Lying in the sun on a balcony was part of the treatment for tuberculosis so that balconies like these were an essential part of sanatorium architecture. The design of Paimio is based firmly on new architecture

12 In its final form - Aalto increased the floor to floor height in the patients' wing after the competition - Paimio Sanatorium rose above the pines to become a dominant feature in the ancient cultural landscape.

13 TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT: A-wing: the patients' wing with the sun balconies, the most important architectonic element, facing south. B-wing contains: the communal spaces, treatment rooms, dining hall, library and common rooms. C-wing contains: the laundry room area, kitchens and staff accommodation. D-wing contains: the boiler room and heating plant. Circulation centres on the main entrance hall between A-wing and B-wing and the stairwell linked to it, which together give access to the other wings of the building. For the first time, Aalto used flowing plastic forms as a fixed part of the building, on the roof terrace of the Sanatorium.

14 ALVAR AALTO S THOUGHT: The idea of continuity and movement is crystallised in the plastic form of the entrance canopy at Paimio Sanatorium. This idea links the symmetrical entrance court to the sun canopies of A-wing and the cylinder-shaped chimney of the boiler house, giving the overall composition a harmonious form. Alvar Aalto on the roof of Paimio, 1932

15 In the public spaces, the colour scheme of the Sanatorium is convergent with the neoplastic art of the twenties and thirties: blue, yellow, grey and white. It creates a fresh and cheerful yet peaceful atmosphere. The rooms in the patients' wing are arranged on the north side of the corridor. By siting the rooms on one side only, Aalto was able to bring natural light into the corridor and give the patients the feeling that they were in control of the space.

16 For Aalto, functionalism was also a moral issue, about voiced this opinion during the Stockholm architecture exhibition in The roof terrace on the patients' wing was used for treatment in summer and winter alike. Tuberculosis was treated with fresh air, so sunbeds suitable for outdoor use were necessary.

17 QUESTIONS: 1) When and where was Aalto born and what his parents done? Where and when did he receive the gold medal? 2) Where is Sanatorium of Paimio situated? What are the technical equipments? 3) Alvar Aalto wasn't also an architect, What was he also? Write an example of Aalto's sculpture works.