Alvar Aalto - Hardcover

Nicholas Ray

3.44

9 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0300107498 ISBN 13: 9780300107494

Publisher: Yale University Press, 2005

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The preeminent Finnish architect Alvar Aalto (1898--1976) developed in the postwar years an architectural language all his own, characterized by curved walls, singlepitched roofs, and inventive combinations of wood and brick. He was also engaged in design at all scales, from the planning of cities, including Helsinki, to the design of furniture and glassware. This book provides a brief but comprehensive look at Aalto's life, works, theory, and relevance for the twenty-first century. The first section of the book offers an account of Aalto's life, including his friendships with such twentieth-century masters as Gropius, Le Corbusier, and Frank Lloyd Wright. The second section looks closely at six of Aalto's most important buildings, among them Baker House in Boston and the concert hall in Helsinki. In the final sections of the book, Nicholas Ray examines several general themes relating to Aalto's work and philosophy. Ray also offers an original and provocative view of Aalto's theory, arguing that the architect's position consistently opposed that of his contemporaries and indeed of most architects to this day.

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Review:

'...as an authoritative, fluently written introduction to Aalto's achievements and legacy it could hardly be bettered.' -- Richard Weston, Architect's Journal, March 16 2006

'...finely balanced with solid research and theory...an important text on this most enigmatic of architects.' -- The Architectural Review, January 2006

'Ray's study is peppered with challenges to Aalto's contemporaries, and indeed to Ray's...insightful architectural comment' -- Sarah Menin, Architecture Today, March 1 2006

Synopsis:

The pre-eminent Finnish architect Alvar Aalto (1898 - 1976) developed in the post-war years an architectural language all of his own, characterised by curved walls, single-pitched roofs and inventive combinations of wood and brick. He was also engaged in design at all scales, from the planning of cities, including Helsinki, to the design of furniture and glassware. In this book Nicholas Ray provides a brief but comprehensive look at Aalto's life, works and theory and his relevance for the twenty-first century. The first section of the book offers an account of Aalto's life, including his friendships with such twentieth-century masters as Gropius, Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright. The second section looks closely at six of Aalto's most important buildings, among them Baker House in Boston and the concert hall in Helsinki. In the final sections of the book, Ray examines several general themes relating to Aalto's work and philosophy. He also offers an original and provocative view of Aalto's theory, arguing that the architect's position consistently opposed that of his contemporaries and indeed that of most architects to this day.

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