Finnish Architecture And The Modernist Tradition

This is a unique and comprehensive study of the entire span of Finnish architecture in the 20th century. Using comparative critical analysis, the author weaves Aalto's contribution into his overview of the evolution of modern Finnish architecture and includes the work of a range of lesser published figures. It will be of considerable interest to architects, art historians and all those interested in modern Finnish architecture.

"The New Finnish Architecture is a rich, detailed, and long-overdue examination of Finland's vital contributions to twentieth-century modern architecture over the last four decades." "Home to Alvar Aalto, one of the greatest masters of the modern movement, Finland has nurtured many dedicated and innovative architects who continue to wrestle with the lessons of modernism and the legacy of Aalto. This volume presents the work of thirteen individual architects and firms and their engaging and provocative designs. Among them are Arkkitehdit KY, Juhani Pallasmaa, Arto Sipinen, Heikkinen/Komonen, ARRAK, and MONARK, the student collective that won the national competition for the Finnish pavilion at the 1992 World's Fair in Seville." "Each architect or firm is presented individually in well-illustrated chapters. Two essays by author Scott Poole give a historical overview of modern architecture in Finland, the work of Aalto, and the work of the rationalist school that followed him in the 1950s--including Aulis Blomstedt, Aarno Ruusuvuori, and Juhani Pallasmaa, among others." "The New Finnish Architecture continues Rizzoli's series on current international developments in architecture, following The New French Architecture and The New Japanese Architecture. Forthcoming volumes will feature Germany, Spain, Italy, Mexico, and Austria."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Drawing on his own experience and intimate knowledge of Nordic architecture in Scandinavia, the author situates Aalto (1898-1976) within the realms of international modernism and Finnish culture, and explores his inspirations: the Finnish landscape and vernacular traditions, Italian domestic architecture, and Greek site planning, as well as the work of architects such as Gunnar Asplund and Le Corbusier. The complete range of Aalto's work is examined through a study of recurring themes and through detailed investigations of key projects. Abundantly illustrated. 10x11.75" c. Book News Inc.

Buildings speak volumes, not just about their occupants or owners, but about the countries in which they exist. From colonnades to paving stones, the architecture of any building does more than simply date the structure—it celebrates the spirit of a people and a nation. Roger Connah's latest book, Finland, explores the culture and democratic spirit of a country whose buildings carry the indelible markings of Finland's political and physical climate. Nearly all of the country's buildings were constructed after 1917, when Finland gained its independence from Russia. The resulting architecture—often springing from hugely popular public competitions—is emphatically democratic in structure and usage. Finland's extreme northern latitudes, for their part, have given rise to buildings with an acute sensitivity to the physical environment and to the delicate interplay of light and shadow. From museums to schools to subsidized housing developments, Connah's Finland is an important survey of the country's architecture. Fully illustrated and with detailed examinations of many of the Finnish master architects—including Alvar Aalto—it is also a valuable contribution to the studies of modern architecture and Nordic history.

This beautiful book examines the design achievements of Finland over the past seven decades, focusing on the central and decisive role played by Modernism. It discusses the work of such renowned architects and designers as Alvar Aalto and Kaj Franck, as well as of manufacturers, including Arabia and Marimekko.

This new account of international modernism explores the complex motivations behind this revolutionary movement and assesses its triumphs and failures. The work of the main architects of the movement such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Adolf Loos, Le Corbusier, and Mies van der Rohe is re-examined shedding new light on their roles as acknowledged masters. Alan Colquhoun explores the evolution of the movement fron Art Nouveau in the 1890s to the megastructures of the 1960s, revealing the often contradictory demands of form, function, social engagement, modernity and tradition.