Alvar Aalto Art Analysis

Introduction

Alvar Aalto Medal, one of the most honourable universal architecture awards comes from the name of one of the best Finnish architects in twentieth century, Alvar Aalto, who is the most acclaimed and acknowledged supporter of humanitarian ideal in architecture. Although there were so many critics against his ideology during his lifetime, Aalto still persisted his way which strong concerns on the relationship between human behaviour and natural surroundings, composition of modern architecture and topography besides showing that modern architecture could be presented in another way which is genial and gentle. From his works, we can know that he was not only practising Nordic modernism but also regionalism that always considers the

Aalto’s works which are the synthesis of these two styles were used to calm the different viewpoints. Alvar Aalto’s works were started from classicism, modernism, and to functionalism. His designs are so special, mature and have his personal touch until they are hard to be imitated. All of his works are always related to environment, aesthetic and also function. For the environment part, Aalto believed that all the excellent ideas come from the small minutiae of human daily activities. Besides that, he was a journalist before and his poets were inseparable from natural material and light. (The Aalto Card in the Conflict between Postmodernism and Modernist Tradition in Finland, Anni Vartola,

He remarked that free forms is actually a sign of human freedom and also reflects the beauty in life. Therefore, we can find the wave-like form throughout this house such as the curvy shape of the swimming pool, fireplace and also the balcony spaces. Moreover, to provide a touch of nature, an undulating screen is designed with solid, curved panels between the bookshelves and the wooden ceiling in order to allow more sunlight to strike into the space.

Baker House (1948)

The name of this building is actually from a student of Massachussets Institute of Technology, Everett Moore Baker who was passed away in an airplane crash. Alvar Aalto was a professor in MIT at that time. MIT provided Aalto a chance to design Baker House with the idea of humanism, monumentality and technology.

Figure 3.5
Baker House. Plan

From the plan of Baker House, we notice that the shape of the dormitory is in an undulating form and it provides a maximum view of Charles River and better ventilation for the