Alvar Aalto. A Gentler Structure of Life

Alvar Aalto (1898¿1976) was an exceptionally versatile and productive architect who, from the 1920s to the 1970s, designed in Finland and elsewhere in Europe and the USA hundreds of projects, ranging from private houses to city centres. In addition to designing architecture, Aalto also lectured, painted, and designed furniture and glass objects. The measure for everything he did was always man and the well-being of the individual.
A Gentler Structure for Life presents 23 projects by Aalto from the 1920s onwards. Among the gems included are Paimio Sanatorium, Villa Mairea, Viipuri Library, Muuratsalo Experimental House, Helsinki University of Technology campus at Otaniemi and Finlandia Hall. Apart from Maija Holma¿s captivatingly beautiful photographs, the book also includes Markku Lahti¿s superb text about the life and works of Alvar Aalto. The clear and flowing text offers, in addition to basic facts, interesting descriptions on the everyday life and work of the master architect, as well as comments from Aalto¿s contemporaries and quotes from Aalto¿s own texts. Splendid, mostly four-colour illustrations, 4 four-page foldouts.