Heilig Geist Kirche / Alvar Aalto. Image © Samuel Ludwig
Many describe the work of Alvar Aalto as an embodiment of the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk (a total work of art), where architecture, design, and art merge into one. The Finnish architect is a pioneer in the so-called organic strand of modern architecture in the early 20th century and has strongly influenced what we know today as Scandinavian architecture. According to a description on the MoMA website: “his work reflected a deep desire to humanize architecture through an unorthodox handling of shapes and materials that was rational and intuitive.” Its methods of bringing natural light into buildings are extolled and studied repeatedly until today. But throughout Aalto’s career, wood has always been present and taken many different forms. From structures to ceilings to stools, Alvar Aalto brought this natural material to the fore.