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Modern Icons: Alvar Aalto's Warm, Modern Furnishings
Classic Finnish pieces from a master and innovator conveys timeless design
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto lived from 1898-1976, leaving quite a mark on the realms of architecture, textiles, furniture and glassware during his lifetime. He was an early International Style modern architect, later finding his own niche where he incorporated more organic forms and warm materials into his own unique modernist architecture. Perhaps a big part of adding warmth and character had to do with the fact that he was very hands-on when it came to design and liked to design the building right down to the lighting and furniture.
After these projects were completed, the best of these original furnishings would make their way into his permanent furniture collection, which we'll take a look at today. Aalto was such a prolific designer that I'll only be able to scratch the surface, but you'll still get a good smattering of Aalto style.
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After these projects were completed, the best of these original furnishings would make their way into his permanent furniture collection, which we'll take a look at today. Aalto was such a prolific designer that I'll only be able to scratch the surface, but you'll still get a good smattering of Aalto style.
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The Savoy vase. Perhaps the best known and most iconic of Aalto's designs are his vases. Designed in 1936 and presented at the 1937 World's Fair in Paris, the vases are molded into organic shapes, and their undulating curves provide a way to compose flowers not seen in other modern vases.
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The Savoy vase is my standard wedding gift for anyone I know who is design-savvy. It's a breeze to order one online from MoMA and check "buy wedding gift" off your otherwise busy to-do list!
| Armchair 44. Speaking of MoMA, this apartment is adjacent to the MoMA and the owner and designer used MoMA's archives when choosing furniture. The armchairs are classic Aalto, crafted from bent birch wood into closed loops.
See the rest of this apartment. |
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Sofa 544. Another closed loop birch piece is the sofa 544. Most of Aalto's furniture came about as pieces in his architectural designs. He would design the building right down to elements like lighting and furniture, and many of these pieces made their way into his permanent furniture collection.
| A331 Pendant Lamp. Another piece that made it from a site-specific spot into Aalto's permanent collection? The ethereal yet straightforward A331 pendant lamp. The steel rings are plated in brass. |
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A110 Pendant Lamp. Another classic Aalto pendant is the A110. It comes in black or white lacquered aluminum, and has a brass ring detail on the bottom. The shape actually resembles a modern flashlight, although it was designed in 1952. The light shines out in sort of a directed spotlight.
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Aino Aalto Pitcher. Aalto's foray into glassware was certainly not limited to his famous vases. His bowls, pitchers and tumblers are still produced today by iittala.
Correction: This was designed by Alvar's wife, Aino Aalto - see comments section below!
Correction: This was designed by Alvar's wife, Aino Aalto - see comments section below!
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900 Tea Trolley. Along with the famous vase, the 900 Tea Trolley was also introduced at the 1937 World's Fair in Paris. This piece just screams Aalto and is available in a few different versions. While this one has the tile top and woven basket, another two-tiered shelf version is also available. Both are manufactured by Artek.
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Chair 406. This gravity-defying chair is another example of the magic of bent birch wood. The linen webbing adds to the light feel of its silhouette.
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The Stool 60. This clever little 3-legged stool required no joists and therefore no skilled craftsmen, bringing modern furniture into mass production. It's also stackable and can be used as a seat or a side table, making it a versatile and stylish piece you'll always find a good use for.
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Ideabook updated on Aug. 24, 2011.
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Vinay Mehta (Interior Designer based in Dubai U A E )
vcmehta@gmail.com