The Melody Tub - A Wet Homage to Aalto.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIno4WMjHSvYCMCdpzuvRhvB9-kk4eecPmW_Ol9QT4b3R_2QSiMDyANtxjL72JsNDii34y2O32MrHibe8F91DvNe3-ec8Olzvv0ald-WmJW18RGYM74KHecoW8JCHw6Zf6424cu-nUas/s1600-h/melodytub.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388510379505285266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIno4WMjHSvYCMCdpzuvRhvB9-kk4eecPmW_Ol9QT4b3R_2QSiMDyANtxjL72JsNDii34y2O32MrHibe8F91DvNe3-ec8Olzvv0ald-WmJW18RGYM74KHecoW8JCHw6Zf6424cu-nUas/s400/melodytub.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 499px; height: 293px;" /></a><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=0d650ffe-1ec7-4395-883b-24e806d21a65&type=website"></script><br /><br />I'm a big fan of Finnish designer <a href="http://www.aalto.com/">Alvar Aalto</a>. Especially his now iconic Savoy vase. The shape has inspired many other designers as well and when I came across this tub, the Melody Tub from PoolSpa, I immediately thought of him. The organically shaped tub is very close to Aalto's Savoy vase shape.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0DCS4v59d3Gnbj6mEMSqD_Q1IsRIrg7MlLtRltb4i3x6e-gH3LWz_TtW-RZrfN-M9Cmg1a9VUEkVA8sZQDAOM8qIocgNXb6ZOPg6QQIQ1zUL81v7iSZhaCyM_4nXzOISMxdEVWRZns8/s1600-h/Picture+16.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388509794533399106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0DCS4v59d3Gnbj6mEMSqD_Q1IsRIrg7MlLtRltb4i3x6e-gH3LWz_TtW-RZrfN-M9Cmg1a9VUEkVA8sZQDAOM8qIocgNXb6ZOPg6QQIQ1zUL81v7iSZhaCyM_4nXzOISMxdEVWRZns8/s400/Picture+16.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 540px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQSEhQt6cy3hyphenhyphenUuto4OW-50xRNc8mYyJ0CvCtYXfdHZIIFy_vUhKyHLbGtBlR61A3Uv0A2Z8TW2My6pN38KMN04ZT4VTNciAcZzLgV3cqxeg8sHHmoLSC-_PiAoad0vYB99Ro4O68ivg/s1600-h/big_melody2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388509436253676514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQSEhQt6cy3hyphenhyphenUuto4OW-50xRNc8mYyJ0CvCtYXfdHZIIFy_vUhKyHLbGtBlR61A3Uv0A2Z8TW2My6pN38KMN04ZT4VTNciAcZzLgV3cqxeg8sHHmoLSC-_PiAoad0vYB99Ro4O68ivg/s400/big_melody2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 502px; height: 268px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCA0DXvIQ5YWLwfAaq7OLy8WCvgjTEX6WMBCrj-qA-lx9fR8MUDDNt098bkQtK1Ba62c-IYd7kuvji5cPE0PIjw6ocESpNEfgzmzTbAFQpXYW42MEqZc3rjA8hlKs43NiF71IXq8L4yEQ/s1600-h/big_Melody+tub.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388509366316807698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCA0DXvIQ5YWLwfAaq7OLy8WCvgjTEX6WMBCrj-qA-lx9fR8MUDDNt098bkQtK1Ba62c-IYd7kuvji5cPE0PIjw6ocESpNEfgzmzTbAFQpXYW42MEqZc3rjA8hlKs43NiF71IXq8L4yEQ/s400/big_Melody+tub.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 498px; height: 331px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.poolspa.eu/en/show/product/nr/48/id/180/f">Visit PoolSpa here to learn more.</a><br /><br />The Savoy Vase by Alvar Aalto (shown in white):<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqRED3zaMcpRw9wKG10WqqjTHQ7JhbTr1VONBPB9GjfwPi7m-t2j1Z4EOrwc9ZBML7D7TC9fRoQBbkhl3NoITmHx44KgR_LFz479ZpwbORpncGIV5PNl1ZjeMXsyzEeSr_M8AaNeL_lE/s1600-h/Picture+39.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389164378375722066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqRED3zaMcpRw9wKG10WqqjTHQ7JhbTr1VONBPB9GjfwPi7m-t2j1Z4EOrwc9ZBML7D7TC9fRoQBbkhl3NoITmHx44KgR_LFz479ZpwbORpncGIV5PNl1ZjeMXsyzEeSr_M8AaNeL_lE/s400/Picture+39.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 495px; height: 433px;" /></a><br />The Alvar Aalto tray in smoky gray:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6W0ioNrwKSgEzmmcdDfKi4DtCAAc8CPlPn6FdqsliXxyyMRYmTLvkpzuzAhb1TOu5x2OqJ9bQRr_0cbMHZ_x7BGCz90Q-njRWkwS_fioIx2ReTvWF5EdYAVrQ0rlJFZH5AdfQH56YB4/s1600-h/Picture+41.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389180556241272354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6W0ioNrwKSgEzmmcdDfKi4DtCAAc8CPlPn6FdqsliXxyyMRYmTLvkpzuzAhb1TOu5x2OqJ9bQRr_0cbMHZ_x7BGCz90Q-njRWkwS_fioIx2ReTvWF5EdYAVrQ0rlJFZH5AdfQH56YB4/s400/Picture+41.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 496px; height: 333px;" /></a><br /><br />If you like Alvar Aalto's work, be sure to see some wonderful <a href="http://www.thisnext.com/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto?view=items">products inspired by his famous vase here.</a><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0pt auto; width: 455px;"><br /><object data="http://www.thisnext.com/swf/badge.swf" height="284" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="455"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://www.thisnext.com/swf/badge.swf"><br /><param name="quality" value="high"><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /><param name="align" value="middle"><br /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><param name="flashvars" value="xmlfile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisnext.com%2Fapi%2Fv1%2Fget%2Ftag%2Falvar-aalto%2F&bgcolor=909B39&source_user=laurasweet&gradientcolor=302B33&description=0"><br /><div><br /> <p>This content requires <a href="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=Shockwaveflash" rel="nofollow">Flash Player 8</a> or higher.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></object></div>

The Melody Tub - A Wet Homage to Aalto.

I'm a big fan of Finnish designer Alvar Aalto . Especially his now iconic Savoy vase. The shape has inspired many other designers as wel...

Read more »

An Homage To Aalto And A Nod To Global Warming Wins Droog's Climate Competition

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=0d650ffe-1ec7-4395-883b-24e806d21a65&type=website"></script><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IKQd3g9wlG2cBxMi_TmJDMtTsCT5ZCy4yb9q1zjrB3nwVO5AvhtUZy_l8R8N_cJ6Yduu2IWH2J3pIcShJgDOl8lKuvnWLUjmJqi5NjytF-cc-gqxsAPY7heM_wmgHOlkRHtYDoljpJl2/s1600-h/Picture+12.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247913929193026242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IKQd3g9wlG2cBxMi_TmJDMtTsCT5ZCy4yb9q1zjrB3nwVO5AvhtUZy_l8R8N_cJ6Yduu2IWH2J3pIcShJgDOl8lKuvnWLUjmJqi5NjytF-cc-gqxsAPY7heM_wmgHOlkRHtYDoljpJl2/s400/Picture+12.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 529px; height: 296px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Above left: The original classic Aalto Savoy Vase and right, Jan Ctvrtnik's entry into the competition<br /><br /></span>I'm a big fan of Alvar Aalto's work and have blogged about him before, as well as complied a list of available items by him and inspired by him<a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2007/05/all-aalto-all-time-finds-inspired-by.html"> here</a>. So when I saw that the winner of Droog's Climate Competition was a variation of Aalto's famous 1936 Savoy Vase (now available in multiple sizes and colors produced by iittala), I was captivated and simply had to share.<br /><br />Winner Jan Ctvrtnik altered the famous shape by showing how it would appear if it, too, were to suffer the effects of global warming. The result is both brilliant and beautiful and doesn't 'ruin' Aalto's fluid classic vase, but instead enhances it.<br /><br />See for yourself.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5xkt-Nqo3EfDHY8LV6NwedADughM79Brr2rNMHWCkjOxiLU41-9mPMK_VqXZVz8GvM90bW1tZ5sPPT-Ly67RFJwjLF2DlC7-jHWLDCOlKSuuHWa0uuMZHiPTP1UK_RM3j_3L_IrJQinx/s1600-h/Picture+14.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247914923965443010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5xkt-Nqo3EfDHY8LV6NwedADughM79Brr2rNMHWCkjOxiLU41-9mPMK_VqXZVz8GvM90bW1tZ5sPPT-Ly67RFJwjLF2DlC7-jHWLDCOlKSuuHWa0uuMZHiPTP1UK_RM3j_3L_IrJQinx/s400/Picture+14.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 531px; height: 704px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7l7jTg9cXHWqF86xKDnOiZlvQI1tVB8-ivDbJYC1cTQuoHWIKdi7-U9O0MKEw7WWd2iGRYgnvCq_h2SL-QH3fDkTeCN6zLdzF2qCu769AXPOspRhfCNjdghILY2e4MzKbI_KCBNbgBcWp/s1600-h/Picture+3.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247917053412639666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7l7jTg9cXHWqF86xKDnOiZlvQI1tVB8-ivDbJYC1cTQuoHWIKdi7-U9O0MKEw7WWd2iGRYgnvCq_h2SL-QH3fDkTeCN6zLdzF2qCu769AXPOspRhfCNjdghILY2e4MzKbI_KCBNbgBcWp/s400/Picture+3.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 528px; height: 505px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sMH_t8Hy169s32GK-owS4lCd4HaWM-zZNDp8yM6ZL0H5jlfMFrl7BW5rtaeNUmND36oYhxYUb4qLbl9CstEXkuOWLZH3wJLFptKp7cV5HRtUwyxt18NuJhmirAkO0-6cSVLeTBpwWkIq/s1600-h/Picture+2.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247916841918037298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sMH_t8Hy169s32GK-owS4lCd4HaWM-zZNDp8yM6ZL0H5jlfMFrl7BW5rtaeNUmND36oYhxYUb4qLbl9CstEXkuOWLZH3wJLFptKp7cV5HRtUwyxt18NuJhmirAkO0-6cSVLeTBpwWkIq/s400/Picture+2.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 528px; height: 536px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG45L45FeIUwDSRwrChi80N4kW47Ystaq8aFs2FIIaAQOkBrWYbCz72xOYXh4CDqfNesw51-F3FBLudg34PJ4O27CwLnlfUrk0Fe2R4hVEEa-1Ne8VOE8dP9LRW7ErIFHBbz6hbGhfGlbm/s1600-h/Picture+1.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247916718233055186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG45L45FeIUwDSRwrChi80N4kW47Ystaq8aFs2FIIaAQOkBrWYbCz72xOYXh4CDqfNesw51-F3FBLudg34PJ4O27CwLnlfUrk0Fe2R4hVEEa-1Ne8VOE8dP9LRW7ErIFHBbz6hbGhfGlbm/s400/Picture+1.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 531px; height: 529px;" /></a><br /><br />With 32% of all votes, visitors of the <a href="http://www.droog.com/presentationsevents/climate-competition/">Droog website</a> have chosen 'Droog Aalto' by Jan Ctvrtnik as the winning proposal for the Climate Competition. Droog initiated the competition for which anyone could submit any idea in any possible form, as long as it concerned the 'climate' theme.<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIORciSZdpIq_L_LBWki-w1GWGXUd4-4aWccTEogteKp6dPFMCHBiGv_J6loM2Rpofd_N3i9NaZUhbY0Y6ZZG4FGgKtdzQ1lp3KIWQZVS2r-j7Wm-7F_EcckIFMlHQBx8FOZLEhzFhkPev/s1600-h/Jan+Ctvrtnik_320_420.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247918068529979650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIORciSZdpIq_L_LBWki-w1GWGXUd4-4aWccTEogteKp6dPFMCHBiGv_J6loM2Rpofd_N3i9NaZUhbY0Y6ZZG4FGgKtdzQ1lp3KIWQZVS2r-j7Wm-7F_EcckIFMlHQBx8FOZLEhzFhkPev/s400/Jan+Ctvrtnik_320_420.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 354px; height: 464px;" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Winner Jan Ctvrtnik: 'I realised that climate changes are visualised mostly by numbers and scientific measurements. In order to show changes, it is good to have a reference point.' And so the Aalto vase became that reference point with its shape originating from the shape of a Finnish lake. The 'Droog' part of the title can be translated as 'Dry', obviously relating to global warming.</span></blockquote>Originally Czechoslovakian, <a href="http://www.file-studio.com/jan/">Jan Ctvrtnik </a>currently lives and works in Pordenone, Italy. After studying design in Prague and at IKDC in Lund (Sweden), he is now working as an industrial designer for Electrolux.<br /><p></p><strong><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2007/05/all-aalto-all-time-finds-inspired-by.html">See other items inspired by Alvar Aalto's vase here.</a><br /></strong><br><br>

An Homage To Aalto And A Nod To Global Warming Wins Droog's Climate Competition

Above left: The original classic Aalto Savoy Vase and right, Jan Ctvrtnik's entry into the competition I'm a big fan of Alvar Aalto...

Read more »

All Aalto, All the Time: Finds Inspired By Alvar Aalto

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6BwU-O0NWraxgQEb-dUnFjc8MUNJt106jtw723QYYwWKlk016myo1CFCmCTEJcCZLThPlT_AE9YatOdUNO4pdLZe8GxJa-bKodAD09hDOURiZwMQ4BvMtLWH0MMzIF9p9svyVcVn-7wY/s1600-h/Aalto_vase.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061294567295795026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6BwU-O0NWraxgQEb-dUnFjc8MUNJt106jtw723QYYwWKlk016myo1CFCmCTEJcCZLThPlT_AE9YatOdUNO4pdLZe8GxJa-bKodAD09hDOURiZwMQ4BvMtLWH0MMzIF9p9svyVcVn-7wY/s400/Aalto_vase.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><i>Above: Alvar Aalto's "Savoy Vase"designed in 1936 and is still inspiring products today.</i><br /><p>I've always been a fan of Alvar Aalto's classic web furniture and wonderful vases. Since his death, many things have been inspired by the famous "Savoy" vase shape of his design.<br /><br />And here are just a few.<br /></p><p>Just click on any of the items below and you'll be directed to their place of purchase</p><br /><div class="tn_post"><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;"><map id="ThisNext_map_954AD36D" name="ThisNext_map_954AD36D"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/75044D07/F5B3979E/Clear-Aalto-Vase-iittala-Aalto?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Clear Aalto Vase - iittala Aalto Vases" shape="rect" coords="11,11,198,198"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/49EB1131/C8922763/Aalto-Votive-Candle-Holders?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Aalto Votive Candle Holders" shape="rect" coords="200,11,387,198"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/33FF907E/364DA6CA/Aalto-Doorstop-by-Tobias-Wong?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Aalto Doorstop by Tobias Wong for Citizen:Citizen" shape="rect" coords="11,200,198,387"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/AD8D6922/3368E344/Iittala-Alvar-Aalto-Serving?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Iittala - Alvar Aalto - Serving Wooden Platter" shape="rect" coords="200,200,387,387"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/93DD5769/36371B2B/iittala-Aalto-Cookie-Cutter?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="iittala Aalto Cookie Cutter" shape="rect" coords="11,389,198,576"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/5A57D907/572FE9EB/Alvar-Aalto-Ice-Cube-Mold?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Alvar Aalto Ice Cube Mold" shape="rect" coords="200,389,387,576"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/C5599D5E/8E4F0299/Aalto-inspired-Napkin-Ring?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Aalto inspired Napkin Ring" shape="rect" coords="11,578,198,765"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/EDCA56C8/2EA89549/Wooden-Aalto-inspired-Trivets?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Wooden Aalto-inspired Trivets" shape="rect" coords="200,578,387,765"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/755BEF6C/EAD3E3CB/AALTO-Steel-Bowl?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="AALTO Steel Bowl" shape="rect" coords="11,767,198,954"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/22E098B6/D5B2DF0F/Flat-Aalto-Vase-pop-out?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Flat Aalto Vase -pop out aluminum" shape="rect" coords="200,767,387,954"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/42C9AE73/F16A2114/Alvar-Aaltos-Flower-Set-white?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Alvar Aalto's Flower Set, white dishes" shape="rect" coords="11,956,198,1143"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/625225DD/F766BECF/Alvar-Aalto-Aalton-Pot-Guards?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Alvar Aalto Aalton Pot Guards" shape="rect" coords="200,956,387,1143"></map><a href="http://www.thisnext.com/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="It's All About Aalto!"><img alt="It's All About Aalto!" height="1165" src="http://www.thisnext.com/media/blogit/954AD36D.jpg" style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) rgb(187, 187, 187) rgb(187, 187, 187) rgb(221, 221, 221); border-width: 1px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;" usemap="#ThisNext_map_954AD36D" width="400" /></a></div><p>See more of my <a href="http://www.thisnext.com/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog">It's All About Aalto!</a> list at ThisNext.</p></div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;"><map id="ThisNext_map_00034022" name="ThisNext_map_00034022"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/617BF630/F5B3979E/Savoy-Vases-By-Alvar-Aalto-20?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="'Savoy' Vases By Alvar Aalto- 20% Off List -" shape="rect" coords="11,11,135,135"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/49EB1131/C8922763/Aalto-Votive-Candle-Holders?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Aalto Votive Candle Holders" shape="rect" coords="137,11,261,135"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/33FF907E/364DA6CA/Aalto-Doorstop-by-Tobias-Wong?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Aalto Doorstop by Tobias Wong for Citizen:Citizen" shape="rect" coords="263,11,387,135"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/AD8D6922/3368E344/Iittala-Alvar-Aalto-Serving?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Iittala - Alvar Aalto - Serving Wooden Platter" shape="rect" coords="11,137,135,261"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/93DD5769/36371B2B/iittala-Aalto-Cookie-Cutter?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="iittala Aalto Cookie Cutter" shape="rect" coords="137,137,261,261"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/5A57D907/572FE9EB/Alvar-Aalto-Ice-Cube-Mold?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Alvar Aalto Ice Cube Mold" shape="rect" coords="263,137,387,261"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/C5599D5E/8E4F0299/Aalto-inspired-Napkin-Ring?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Aalto inspired Napkin Ring" shape="rect" coords="11,263,135,387"><area href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/EDCA56C8/2EA89549/Wooden-Aalto-inspired-Trivets?u=laurasweet&p=/list/0C537102/Its-All-About-Aalto&t=blog" title="Wooden Aalto-inspired Trivets" shape="rect" coords="137,263,261,387"></map><span style="font-weight: bold;">About Alvar Aalto:</span><br /></div><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">Alvar Aalto was born in Kuortane, Finland. He studied architecture at the Helsinki University of Technology from 1916 to 1921. He returned to Jyväskylä, where he opened his first architectural office in 1923. The following year he married architect Aino Marsio. Their honeymoon journey to Italy sealed an intellectual bond with the culture of the Mediterranean region that was to remain important to Aalto for the rest of his life. Aalto moved his office to Turku in 1927, and started collaborating with architect Erik Bryggman. The office moved again in 1933, to Helsinki. The Aaltos designed and built a joint house-office (1935-36) for themselves in Munkkiniemi, Helsinki, but later (1954-55) had a purpose-built office built in the same neighbourhood. Aino Aalto died in 1949 and in 1952 he married architect Elissa Mäkiniemi (died 1994). In 1957 they designed and had built a summer cottage, the so-called Experimental House, for themselves in Muuratsalo, where they spent their summers. Alvar Aalto died in May 11, 1976, in Helsinki.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQihkcu0d3hx_gaq18Za4Hox7PBjQaD3_9kOX_SxukF5hlyMCN2rqL1zJMRWUCxTAXYZUJF6ZZC5zjFx1YePg8RQmGLXtLdV5piXBa7kUugisMu0nQKE4hB_1jvUDDC7bqs1wCKfUoq6L3/s1600-h/Alvar_Aalto_portrait.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061293957410438962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQihkcu0d3hx_gaq18Za4Hox7PBjQaD3_9kOX_SxukF5hlyMCN2rqL1zJMRWUCxTAXYZUJF6ZZC5zjFx1YePg8RQmGLXtLdV5piXBa7kUugisMu0nQKE4hB_1jvUDDC7bqs1wCKfUoq6L3/s400/Alvar_Aalto_portrait.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Above: Early portrait of Alvar Aalto<br /><br />Although sometimes regarded as the first and the most influential architects of Nordic modernism, a closer examination of the historical facts reveals how Aalto (while a pioneer in Finland) closely followed and had personal contacts with other pioneers in Sweden, in particular Gunnar Asplund and Sven Markelius. But what they and many others of that generation in the Nordic countries had in common was that they started off from a classical education and were first designing in the so-called Nordic Classicism style before moving, in the late 1920s, towards Modernism.<br /><br />In Aalto's case this is epitomised by the Viipuri Library (1927-35), which went through a transformation from an originally classical competition entry proposal to the completed high-modernist building. His humanistic approach is in full evidence there: the interior displays natural materials, warm colours, and undulating lines. The Viipuri Library project lasted eight years, and during that same time he also designed the Turun Sanomat Building (1929-30) and Paimio Sanatorium (1929-33): thus the Turun Sanomat Building first heralded Aalto's move towards modernism, and this was then carried forward both in the Paimio Sanatorium and in the on-going design for the library. But though the Turun Sanomat Building and Paimio Sanatorium are comparatively pure modernist works, even they carried the seeds of his questioning of such an approach and a move to a more daring, synthetic attitude.</blockquote><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLl4tKeF5B2YuKQGCIDI5sioj6T8E6ddyjztkinklIMB9XBUPOulykW6oCTObpgwDA3X5Dt2DhcFzp3EJ9bCpg9t3QMd4wlkro1HR5yg0bkIP4oK11HxlmkHOHIKeb0fstUENlkod9OMaP/s1600-h/Aaltoarchitects.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061294189338672962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLl4tKeF5B2YuKQGCIDI5sioj6T8E6ddyjztkinklIMB9XBUPOulykW6oCTObpgwDA3X5Dt2DhcFzp3EJ9bCpg9t3QMd4wlkro1HR5yg0bkIP4oK11HxlmkHOHIKeb0fstUENlkod9OMaP/s400/Aaltoarchitects.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />above: Alvar and his wife, Aino<br /><br />Aalto was a member of the Congres Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne; attending the second congress in Frankfurt in 1929, and the fourth congress in Athens in 1933. It was not until the completion of the Paimio Sanatorium (1929) and Viipuri Library (1935) that he first achieved world attention in architecture. His reputation grew in the USA following the critical reception of his design for the Finnish Pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair, described by Frank Lloyd Wright as a "work of genius".</blockquote><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">It could be said that Aalto's reputation was sealed with his inclusion in the second edition of Sigfried Giedion's influential book on Modernist architecture, Space, Time and Architecture. The growth of a new tradition (1949), in which Aalto received more attention than any other Modernist architect, including Le Corbusier. In his analysis of Aalto, Giedion gave primacy to qualities that depart from direct functionality, such as mood, atmosphere, intensity of life and even 'national characteristics', declaring that "Finland is with Aalto wherever he goes".</blockquote><br />Aalto's awards included the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture from the Royal Institute of British Architects (1957) and the Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects<br /><br />For More About Alvar Aalto or Aalto products and design, see the links below:<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvar_Aalto">Wikipedia</a><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.aalto.com">Buy Aalto vases and products</a><br /><a href="http://www.alvaraalto.fi/museum/">The Alvar Aalto Museum</a><br /><a href="http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Alvar_Aalto.html">Aalto's Architecture</a><br /><a href="http://scandinaviandesign.com/Alvar_Aalto/index.htm">More info and products from Scandanavian Design</a><br /><a href="http://www.designmuseum.org/design/alvar-aalto">Design Museum info</a>

All Aalto, All the Time: Finds Inspired By Alvar Aalto

Above: Alvar Aalto's "Savoy Vase"designed in 1936 and is still inspiring products today. I've always been a fan of Alvar A...

Read more »