Among the modern masters, Alvar Aalto is known for hishuman architecture, his free form, his closeness to nature, his sensitive us of materials, his responsiveness to site. The present volume contains six essays that examine precisely these aspects of Aalto’s work. The focus is on five buildings that represent different periods and different typologies in Aalto’s oevuvre: the Villa Mairea in Noormarkku, Finland; the Baker Dormitory in Cambridge, Massachusetts; the House of Culture in Helsinki, Finland; the Mount Angel Library in St. Benedict, Oregon; and the Parish Church at Riola, Italy.
Kari Jormakka is Professor of Architectural Theory at the Technical University of Vienna and Docent at the Tampere University of Technology.
Jacqueline Gargus is Associate Professor of Design and History of Architecture at The Ohio State University.
Douglas Graf is Associate Professor of Design and Theory of Architecture at The Ohio State University.