The Aalto House

Location: Munkkiniemi,Helsinki,Finnland

Architect: Alvar Alto , Alvar Aalto

Material: Stone

Story:

In connection with his planning assignment for the Stenius company, Alvar Aalto acquired a plot at Riihitie in Munkkiniemi in 1934, and promptly built a house there. Its departures from rigid Rationalism make this an important advance in the series of private houses from the Villa Tammekann to the Villa Mairea.

Combining work spaces and housing demonstrates Aalto's attitude to the integration of art and everyday life, and gives expression to his view of work as the meaning of life for the harmonious human being. The lower storey forms a spatial continuum of living and working rooms; the bedrooms, children's room, and sunlit terrace are upstairs. The interiors were elegantly furnished in every detail, but with no trace of straining for effect. The impact of Aino Aalto must have been significant.

The Aalto House was in residential use until 1994, when it came into the custodianship of the Alvar Aalto Foundation. The house was renovated in 2000-2002. Today The Aalto House serves as museum and is a member of The Iconic House organization.

Related architects: