A4346 Alvar Aalto and the Finnish Tradition
History/Theory SeminarKenneth Frampton
Forty years ago the Swiss architects Eduard and Claudia Neuenschwander published a small book bearing the title Alvar Aalto and Finnish Architecture. Published by Erlenbach in Zurich, by Praeger in New York and by The Architectural Press in London, this publication was, in some respects, an illicit document. It contained material that Aalto himself had never condoned. Printed in German, French and English it was nonetheless a remarkable text since it put together with great care, the tradition of which Aalto was evidently a part, beginning with the land itself, with the production of wood and going on to discuss the tradition of the sauna. According considerable importance to the agricultural vernacular, including its furniture, it went on to show how Aalto's timber that could be found in construction echoed many of the techniques of the aboriginal timber tradition.
Preceding in a manner that in retrospect one can only call collagiste, the Neuenschwanders juxtaposed many different aspects of the Finnish architecture including the work of Lars Sonck, the Neoclassical legacy of Carl Ludwig Engel and Eliel Saarinen's Helsinki Railway Terminus. The remainder of the book illustrated works carried out in Aalto's office during the time that the Neuenschwander s worked there, that is to say, the years 1950 and 1951. Taking this book as a point of departure this seminar will attempt to trace the full trajectory of Aalto's career, starting with his early training at the Institute of Technology, Helsinki in 1916 and ending with the works that were still incomplete at the time of his death in 1977.
WORKING METHOD
The first four seminars will take the form of lectures plus a short discussion period at the end of each seminar. These discussions will be structured about a series of questions based upon the bibliography. The next eight seminars will comprise student analytic presentations of specific buildings selected from the total body of Aalto's work. The bibliography should also be employed as source material for these analyses in order to read these buildings in their respective context. Students will be expected to work in groups in the preparation of these analyses.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Students will be expected to attend all seminars and participate in the discussion. As far as the analytical presentations are concerned, each analysis must be accompanied by a model and a body of analytical material presented in the form of slides. The scale of the analytical model and/or models and its format are to be determined in collaboration with the tutor. To receive a final grade students will be expected to write up the analysis and make it available for distribution to other members of the s eminar.
TOPICS
1. Alvar Aalto in the 1950 s and the Roots of Finnish National Culture
2. Finnish Jugendstil vs. Nordic Classicism
3. Alvar Aalto, an Overview 1927 - 1935
4. A Synoptic Critique of the Contingent Literature
5. Visit with Peter Reed to the II E by Alvar Aalto 1961-1965, United Nations Plaza, New York
6. Student Analysis No: 1 Viipuri Library/Competition Entry and Final Scheme 1927-1935
7. Student Analysis No: 2 Paimio Sanatorium Entry and Final Scheme 1929-1932
8. Student Analysis No: 3 Villa Mairea, Noormarku and the Alvar Aalto House, Munkkiniemi 1935-1939
9. Student Analysis No: 4 Saynatsalo City Hall in Relation to Jyväskala and Seinajoki 1947-1958
10. Student Analysis No: 5 National Pensions Institute Entry and Final Scheme 1948-1957
11. Student Analysis No: 6 Baker Dormitory MIT and Berlin Hansaviertel Block 1946-1957
12. Student Analysis No: 7 North Jutland Art Museum Aalborg and the Baghdad and Shiraz Museums 1958-1969
13. Student Analysis No: 8 Unbuilt Cemeteries for Malmi and Lynby-Taarbek 1934, 1950-1952