Architect: Alvar Aalto

The Religious Architecture of Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto (2023) — Review

The Religious Architecture of Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto (2023) — Review

C.M. Howell

There is an ongoing debate within the field of theology and the arts concerning to what degree ‘theology’ must guide the discussion. Those on one side of the divide argue that unless the terms are clearly staked out within traditional discourses and literature in theology, we do not know what… Read More

Keep digging and you will find what you are looking for: Alvar Aalto in Germany

Keep digging and you will find what you are looking for: Alvar Aalto in Germany

Sofia Singler

In 1957, Alvar Aalto gave a speech in Munich entitled ‘Schöner Wohnen’.[1] He referred to his own design, the Hansaviertel apartment block in Berlin—his first project in Germany—as he described the key concerns in the design of the modern dwelling. (The construction of Aalto’s second German project, the Neue Vahr… Read More

Thinking Through Twentieth-Century Architecture (2023) – Review

Thinking Through Twentieth-Century Architecture (2023) – Review

André Patrão

Philosophy has long played an influential part in architectural practice and discourse. In the last twenty years, several new publications have started to trace the histories of this phenomenon. Some, like Branko Mitrović’s Philosophy for Architects (2011), lay out introductory surveys of major figures, works, and ideas at the overlap… Read More

Instead of an Article (1958)

Instead of an Article (1958)

Alvar Aalto

‘As I cannot write an article, this dialogue is intended to replace it. It is only partially authentic, but that, of course, is also the case with the classical dialogues.’ Alvar Aalto in Arkkitehti-Arkitekten (1958): Sigfried Giedion: ‘What do I see, old friend, are you planning to write?’ Alvar Aalto:… Read More

Aalto on Asplund: Stockholm Exhibition (1930)

Aalto on Asplund: Stockholm Exhibition (1930)

Alvar Aalto

Alvar Aalto, from an interview for the Swedish newspaper Åbo Underrättelser, May 22, 1930. Reprinted in Göran Schildt, ed., Alvar Aalto: Sketches, trans. Stuart Wrede (London: MIT Press, 1979), 16.

Alternative Histories: Edelaar Mosayebi Inderbitzin Architekten on Alvar Aalto

Alternative Histories: Edelaar Mosayebi Inderbitzin Architekten on Alvar Aalto

Die Zeichnung zum Rathaus und Theater Jyväskylä bot uns weniger Anleitung für unsere Arbeit am Projekt alternative history, sondern eröffnete vielmehr einen Imaginationsraum – nicht zuletzt, weil der markante Rathausturm im Entwurf von Aalto gar nicht realisiert wurde. Unsere Recherche führte uns deshalb bald weiter. Über die Ansicht von Aaltos Malereien… Read More

Alvar Aalto’s city

Alvar Aalto’s city

Markus Lähteenmäki

For whatever reason it is produced, a blueprint solidifies a moment in the design process and further solidifies the project. It is not necessarily the final moment, and often after the blueprints have been produced they might be annotated by one or the other master, resulting in new drawings from… Read More