Product Description

"The form is a mystery that eludes every definition."—Alvar Aalto

Finnish architect Alvar Aalto (1898–1976) was not only influenced by the landscape of his native country, but by the political struggle over Finland’s place within European culture. After early neoclassical buildings, Alvar Aalto turned to ideas based on Functionalism, subsequently moving toward more organic structures, with brick and wood replacing plaster and steel. In addition to designing buildings, furniture, lamps, and glass objects with his wife Aino, he painted and was an avid traveler. A firm believer that buildings have a crucial role in shaping society, Aalto once said, "The duty of the architect is to give life a more sensitive structure."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #73961 in Books
• Published on: 2004-12-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

From the Publisher
A Compact Overview of the World's Greatest Architects TASCHEN's Basic Architecture Series

Basic Architecture features:
• Each title contains approximately 120 images, including photographs, sketches, drawings, and floor plans
• Introductory essays explore the architect’s life and work, touching on family and background as well as collaborations with other architects
• The body presents the most important works in chronological order, with descriptions of client and/or architect wishes, construction problems (why some projects were never executed), and resolutions
• The appendix includes a list of complete or selected works, biography, bibliography and a map indicating the locations of the architect’s most famous buildings

About the Author
Finnish-born Louna Lahti worked for the Alvar Aalto Society for many years, first as exhibition secretary and later as treasurer, before establishing her own firm in 1984. She has lectured and published extensively on visual arts and architecture.

Customer Reviews

"Basic"
When they call this book "basic," they mean it. There is nothing deep or philosophical contained within these pages. Instead, this is an overview of the main works that Aalto produced during his career. Projects range from his Savoy vases to entire buildings. This is a good starting point for anyone who is interested in learning more about Aalto's work and nice to have as a basic reference. For the price, this little book can't be beat!

Dry, but an inexpensive introduction
I love Aalto's work, but this book was just dry.
I give it 3.5 only because it's meant to be an inexpensive introduction to Aalto's work, and it is inexpensive..but the writing is just dry. You really get nothing from the articles about the buildings..but it is a nice intro to the architect's life and it does showcase a few of his best works...albeit in a dry manner..

If you aren't really interested in his work, this is perfect for you.
But if you want a decent look into some of his buildings and materials and philosophy, then your going to have to splurge a little

B-