Born in Kuortane, Finland, Aalto experimented with many different styles throughout his career, from Nordic Classicism, Functionalism, Experimentation and finally at the mature level of his career, Monumentalism. However, there was always one thing that never changed in his style: the sense of Gesamtkunstwerk (a total work of art). He wanted his buildings to stand as complete works of art, with every element in harmony. Therefore, he designed his buildings' interiors, complete with surfaces, furniture, lamps and glassware. This is the main reason why he started to design furniture in the 1920s, collaborating with his first wife, Aino Aalto.
While he was designing the Paimio Sanitorium, his experimentation with bent plywood created one of his most famous designs, the Paimio Chair, which was originally designed for tuberculosis patients. Comfortable, yet light enough to be easily moved by patients, the chair’s frame is composed of two laminated birch loops; the seat and back are formed from a single sheet of plywood that scrolls under at the headrest and beneath the knees, creating a sort of pillow effect.
Aalto was highly innovative in his designs. He was an early adopter of the cantilever principle, which was used for bridges, for furniture design. He invented the Y-Leg and L-Leg designs. He was infatuated with wood, calling it a "form-inspiring, deeply human material". This love affair awarded him his genius in shaping the wood as if it was liquid, giving it the form and structure that created the signature Aalto look.
Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto is one of the most prominent contributors to the worldwide fame of Scandinavian Modernism. He was a humanist, whose main goal in designing buildings and furniture was to offer comfort, aesthetic and pleasure to human beings. He once said "The ultimate goal of the architect...is to create a paradise. Every house, every product of architecture... should be a fruit of our endeavour to build an earthly paradise for people."
Born in Kuortane, Finland, Aalto experimented with many different styles throughout his career, from Nordic Classicism, Functionalism, Experimentation and finally at the mature level of his career, Monumentalism. However, there was always one thing that never changed in his style: the sense of Gesamtkunstwerk (a total work of art). He wanted his buildings to stand as complete works of art, with every element in harmony. Therefore, he designed his buildings' interiors, complete with surfaces, furniture, lamps and glassware. This is the main reason why he started to design furniture in the 1920s, collaborating with his first wife, Aino Aalto.
While he was designing the Paimio Sanitorium, his experimentation with bent plywood created one of his most famous designs, the Paimio Chair, which was originally designed for tuberculosis patients. Comfortable, yet light enough to be easily moved by patients, the chair’s frame is composed of two laminated birch loops; the seat and back are formed from a single sheet of plywood that scrolls under at the headrest and beneath the knees, creating a sort of pillow effect.
Aalto was highly innovative in his designs. He was an early adopter of the cantilever principle, which was used for bridges, for furniture design. He invented the Y-Leg and L-Leg designs. He was infatuated with wood, calling it a "form-inspiring, deeply human material". This love affair awarded him his genius in shaping the wood as if it was liquid, giving it the form and structure that created the signature Aalto look.
His designs quickly became a sensation around the world and he showed in an extensive exhibition in MOMA New York, taking the U.S by storm, earning the attention of many modernist American designers such as Charles and Ray Eames and George Nelson, who shared Aalto's humanistic ideals. His famous designs include the Aalto Lounge Chair, the Savoy Vase (now produced by Iittala), the Beehive and Golden Bell lamps. No matter what the product is, it carries the Aalto style: simple, organic, spirited.
What is Alvar Aalto known for?
As an architect, Alvar Aalto’s works include significant building designs such as the Bell Tower of Kauhajärvi Church, Essen Opera House, and The Nordic House, among others. But as a furniture designer, he has created at least two famous masterpieces, the Paimio Chair in 1932 and the Aalto Vase in 1936. His other notable works include Armchair 406, Four-legged Stool E60, and Floor Lamp A810.
What auction houses (and galleries) have sold items from Alvar Aalto?
Galleries and auctions all over the world have collected and sold most of Aalto’s furniture pieces. The galleries that hold some of his works are Kinder Modern with his 1935 Child Set; Modernity with Armchair No. 31; Galerie Le Beau with Outdoor Wall Lamp; and Dada Studios with the Alvar Aalto Tea Trolley Model 900. Heritage Auctions, Rago, and Wright have the Two Vases, Screen Model 100 and Cantilevered Chairs Model 34/402, respectively.
What is the price range of Alvar Aalto items?
The works of this famed Finnish architect and designer are priced at around $550 for the vases, $8,000 for the trolleys, $20,000 for the lamps, and $40,000 for the armchairs. These prices indicate how relevant the works of Alvar Aalto really are. Throughout his career, Aalto has designed over 500 individual buildings. However, the things that he refers to small-scale sculptural experiments are much more than that. These are the designs that lead to innovative furniture and glassware designs.
Interesting info about the Alvar Aalto
The brilliance of Alvar Aalto, not just in architecture but also in furniture design, led to the birth of Artek, a Finnish furniture company that he founded in 1935 with his wife, Aino Aalto. They were joined by art historian Nils-Gustav Hahl and visual arts promoter Marie Gullichsen. Together, they made state-of-the-art furniture designs and glassware, which were exported to different parts of the world. One of the companies that took interest in Aalto’s stool designs, more particularly Stool E60 and High Stool, is Apple. These are stools that are used in Apple Stores across the world to serve as comfy seats for their customers.
