Alvar Aalto Book Published
Harry Charrington has co-written and edited a new book on the Aalto atelier. Alvar Aalto is one of the best known 20th century architects; but while we know what Aalto did, we don't know how he did it.
The book reveals Aalto's creative performance through twenty-three conversations between members of his atelier spanning a period of fifty years from 1944 to 1994. Sixty-four projects covering the full range of Aalto’s work are discussed, giving the reader a sense of Aalto's work that goes far beyond the limited canon of buildings that are usually covered.
The book places Aalto’s work in its time, and among the people and milieu that wrought it, so we hear about the buildings not as art-historical artefacts, but as part of a dynamic, and often contentious, environment – as well as how the atelier itself formed an integral part of Aalto's achievement. The book explores: the roles of Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto; the everyday life, ambience and organization of the atelier; how Aalto won commissions; the habits, skill and judgements through which Aalto’s ideas were translated into buildings; drawings and model-making; collaboration with consultants and craftsmen on prototypes and on site.
The book is illustrated with over 80 original drawings and photographs from the Alvar Aalto Foundation. The writers, Harry Charrington and Vezio Nava, both worked in the Aalto atelier, and contribute additional analytical commentaries.
For an opportunity to win a copy of the book thanks to Rakennustieto Publishing visit the arch daily website.
