Alvar Aalto

Alvar Aalto is probably the most internationally renowned designer to date. Born in Kuortane, Alvar Aalto (1898–1976) was a Finnish architect, draughtsman, urban planner and designer. He remains one of the most internationally recognised designers in the history of the field. From a very young age, Aalto showed an interest in and a great talent for the decorative arts. He studied architecture at Helsinki University of Technology, graduating in 1921, and immediately embarked on his professional career by opening his own architectural practice.

Aalto is renowned as a proponent of functionalism and organic architecture. Throughout his career, the designer sought the perfect harmony between aesthetics, functionality and respect for the landscape.

‘Human life is a combination of tragedy and comedy. The forms and designs that surround us are also the music that accompanies us through this tragedy and comedy.’

His creative approach was part of the Scandinavian modernist movement of the time. He rejected classicism and defined his own style by experimenting with materials, placing them at the heart of his creations and drawing asymmetrical curves, resulting in functional yet elegant furniture. He adopted an organic approach, drawing inspiration from nature and striking a perfect balance between tradition and modernity.

It is difficult to single out Alvar Aalto’s most famous creation, but there are certainly several of his designs that have become international bestsellers. His collaboration with the Finnish glass manufacturer Iittala is one such example. He designed the Alvar Aalto collection for them. This includes, in particular, the famous Aalto glass. Inspired by the meaning of his own surname – ‘Aalto’ means ‘wave’ in Finnish – it is a simple design that made a revolutionary statement for its time. Other pieces in the same creative vein form part of this iconic collection.