last week, we went to an exhibition showcasing the legendary finnish architect, alvar aalto. I wasn’t exactly sure how his style or methods in design, so I took an advantage to learn more about him- He began with classical education, as some of his early works features classicist principles, e.g. symmetry and colonnades. but then he went off to the modernist, influencing northern europe architecture so much that he was called the “father of modernism” in that region.
the exhibition primarily shows residential works of alvar aalto, mostly designed as single-family houses. so, in short, my view was that aalto was superb in timber details, which I managed to notice. also, I was impressed at some of the scale models, especially the one of Villa Mairea, done in 1939. you will believe me after you examine some of the photos I’ve taken below; -
villa mairea scale model: towards outside
villa mairea scale model: the dinner table
villa mairea scale model: the staircase
the scale model was framed, hidden and locked in a black box, leaving only a small space just enough for a person’s peek- this method gives a sense of really being in the interior of the house, although it refrains you to go to other angles- the background was lighted up, as if it was the ambience lighting from the sun. if you do notice, the details of the timber were so delicate, be it furnitures or parts of the house.
these two objects were the icon of alvar aalto, the first one being the paimio chair and the second; aalto vase. paimio chair was so associated with aalto to the point that most chairs in aalto’s designed houses are the paimio. and for the vase, he won the unique glass competition at the 1937 World Fair- together they became objects that outlast changing times and trends; hence the “timeless expressions”.
well, for me - timber is a type of material I found difficult to explore, but alvar aalto really taught me that timber is a great for its texture. though didn’t learn much of aalto’s commercial forms, he is one great architect to be remembered.
“God created paper for the purpose of drawing architecture on it. everything else is at least for me an abuse of paper.”
- alvar aalto
an architectural student from malaysia, studying in limkokwing university of creative technology, pursuing his degree in architectural science
