Alvar Aalto and The Art of Landscape

Alvar Aalto and The Art of Landscape captures the essence of the Finnish architect’s landscape concept, emphasising culture and tradition, which characterised his approach to and understanding of architecture as part of the wider environment. From the forests of his youth to sights from his travels, Alvar Aalto (1898–1976) was influenced by outdoor landscapes. Throughout his career, he felt the need to shape the terrain and this became a signature of his architecture. Divided into five chapters, this book traces Aalto’s relationship with landscape, starting with an analysis of his definitions and descriptions of landscape language, which ranged from natural references and biological terms, to synonyms and comparisons. It includes beautifully illustrated case study projects from the 1950s and 1960s, discussing Aalto’s transformation of different landscapes through topography, terracing and tiers, ruins and natural elements, horizon outlines, landmarks, and the repetition of form. Featuring archival sketches, garden drawings, and plans, the book also contains Aalto’s text ‘Architecture in the Landscape of Central Finland’ from 1925 in the appendix. This book provides fascinating, untold insights into Aalto’s relationship with landscape and how this developed during his lifetime, for scholars, researchers, and students interested in architecture and landscape history, landscape art, and cultural studies.

Table of Contents:
Contents Preface by Jussi Rautsi Introduction WRITINGS OF ALVAR AALTO Landscape Biology and nature Garden and architecture THE ORIGIN OF AALTO’S LANDSCAPE CONCEPT The Finnish national landscape Light and shadow in Alvar Aalto’s architecture The garden art as part of landscape The holistic approach in Aalto’s architecture Riihitie House The garden city movement Sunila The re-evaluated landscape The shifting contours in Aalto’s architecture Muurame Church The room in between Muuratsalo experimental house Towards a modern landscape Paimio Sanatorium The forerunners of Nordic landscape architecture, the contemporaries of Aalto Garden designers consulting Aalto Ateljee Aalto The Japanese reconstructed landscape Authenticity of materials and forms in Aalto’s architecture Villa Mairea The Mediterranean landscape The constructed landscape of Aalto Jyväskylä university A side track to the Orient National pensions Institute The United States – genius loci and the raised importance of spatial planning Aerial plans and greeneries Oulu river rapids centre ALVAR AALTO – THE INFLUNCES OF THE VISUAL ARTS The Modern art in Aalto’s time Gesamtkunstwerk The role of sketching Salpausselkä relief and Suommussalmi war memorial Shaping the terrain as an attribute in Aalto’s architecture Säynätsalo Town Hall Toward ‘monumental art’ Seinäjoki CASE STUDIES Green flexibility – Master plans of Imatra and Lapland Two sides of Urbanism – Helsinki City Centre and satellite centre Stensvik Two town halls using the best out of landscape – Kiruna and Alajärvi Cultural projects – in a valley and on top – Nordic House and Shiraz Art museum Churches as landmarks – Riola di Vergato and in Lahti The private houses on the slope – Maison Carré and Villa Kokkonen CONCLUSIONS Featuring landscape ALVAR AALTO Architecture in the Landscape of Central Finland, 1926 CHRONOLOGY Aalto’s main projects related to his writings, travels and personal contacts Index