Alvar Aalto, Second Nature

"The Magus of the North" : this was the epithet which architecture critic Sigfried Giedion found for Alvar Aalto (1898-1976), the best-known Finnish architect of his generation and a major exponent of a different kind of modernism - one conceived on a more human scale. His buildings, such as the Paimio Tuberculosis Sanatorium or the legendary Villa Mairea, stand for a masterly, organic combination of volumes, materials and light. His laminated plywood chairs made him one of the most important designers of the twentieth century, while his Savoy Vase has come to be seen as the epitome of Finnish and organic design. Alvar Aalto - Second Nature draws on recent research into Aalto's oeuvre to present a comprehensive overview of his work in architecture, design and urban planning, with a special focus on his dialogue with major contemporary artists - including László Moholy-Nagy, Hans Arp, Alexander Calder and Fernand Léger - and his fascination with film, cinema and photography. The book features eleven essays by authors from various countries. The catalogue section presents numerous original drawings from the Alvar Aalto Museum and pieces of Aalto furniture from the holdings of the Vitra Design Museum. A complete list of all his buildings and projects is also included, along with several photographic essays by the artist Armin Linke showing Aalto's buildings from a contemporary perspective.