{"product_id":"aalto-9783836560108","title":"Aalto","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlvar Aalto\u003c\/strong\u003e (1898-1976) made a \u003cstrong\u003eunique modernist mark\u003c\/strong\u003e. Influenced by both the landscape and the political independence of his native Finland, he designed \u003cstrong\u003ewarm, curving, compassionate buildings, \u003c\/strong\u003ewholly set apart from the slick, mechanistic, geometric designs that characterized much contemporary European practice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Whether a church, a villa, a sauna, or a public library, Aalto's \u003cstrong\u003eorganic structures \u003c\/strong\u003etended to replace plaster and steel with brick and wood, often incorporating \u003cstrong\u003eundulating, wave-like forms\u003c\/strong\u003e, which would also appear in his chair, glassware, and lamp designs. An adherent to detail, Aalto insisted upon the \u003cstrong\u003ehumanity of his work\u003c\/strong\u003e stating: \"Modern architecture does not mean using immature new materials; the main thing is to work with materials towards a more human line.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Many of Aalto's public buildings such as \u003cstrong\u003eSäynätsalo Town Hall\u003c\/strong\u003e, the lecture theatre at \u003cstrong\u003eOtaniemi Technical University\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003eHelsinki National Pensions Institute \u003c\/strong\u003eand the \u003cstrong\u003eHelsinki\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eHouse of Culture \u003c\/strong\u003emay be seen as psychological as well as physical landmarks in the rebuilding of Finland after the ravages of war.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLahti, Louna:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - 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.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eGössel, Peter:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Peter Gössel runs an agency for museum and exhibition design. He has published TASCHEN monographs on Julius Shulman, R. M. Schindler, John Lautner, and Richard Neutra, as well as several titles in the Basic Architecture series.","brand":"Taschen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50613824880914,"sku":"9783836560108","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_f16832b6-100d-41d5-b7d9-9bc26f7c3895.jpg?v=1732419536","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/aalto-9783836560108","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}