Alvar Aalto Houses

The authors of FInnish Summer Houses turn their attention to the residential architecture of Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto (1898-1976), who was among the first and most influential architects of Nordic modernism. Aalto, who is also known for his furniture and glassware, worked in a unique style that blended modernism and traditional vernacular architecture and was characterised by his use of natural materials and organic forms. During the course of a career spanning over fifty years, Alvar Aalto designed nearly one hundred single family houses. Many of them are architectural gems that illustrate his thoughts about dwelling and architecture. It was in his houses that Aalto had the opportunity to experiment with new ideas, as many of them were built for close friends. This book presents twenty six houses by Aalto, including the Muuratsalo Experimental House, Aalto s own house in Helskinki, the Villa Mairea, and the Maison Carre, and is beautifully illustrated with newly commissioned photographs as well as archival drawings. An essay by Juhani Pallasmaa introduces Aalto s from the 1920s to the 1960s.