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EERO SAARINEN1INTERNATIONAL STYLEThe purpose of architecture is to shelter and enhance mans life on earth and to fulfill his belief in the nobility of his existence.

Eero Saarinen (Aug 20,1910 Sep 1,1961) was a Finnish-American architect and industrial designer of the 20th century famous for varying his style according to the demands of the project: simple, sweeping, arching structural curves or machine-like rationalism.For Eero,Architecture was a discipline like the fine arts, and in particular, sculpture. He called himself a "form giver" and everything he designed had a strong sculptural quality.During his long association with Knoll he designed significant furniture including the "Grasshopper" chair , the "Womb" chair & Ottoman, and his most famous "Tulip" or "Pedestal" group , which featured side and arm chairs, dining, coffee & side tables, & a stool. 2International StyleEERO SAARINEN

St.Louis Arch or Saarinen Gateway, Missouri

Saarinen began his career as a student at Yale University and after travels and studies in Europe returned to the U.S. and taught for a brief period at Cranbrook. Saarinen and Eames collaborated on various projects, culminating in a range of furniture that won first prize at an exhibition held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1940 entitled, "Organic Design in Home Furnishings." After 1946,Saarinen became associated with Knoll Associates. A number of Saarinens chairs for Knoll were to become landmarks in the history of 20th century design.3International StyleEERO SAARINENIn the postwar decades of what has been called "the American Century," Saarinen helped create the international image of the United States with his designs for some of the most potent symbolic expressions of American identity such as St. Louis Gateway Arch General Motors Technical Center, MichiganTWA Terminal at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport.MIT ChapelDulles Airport Terminal, Washington

4International StyleEERO SAARINENTrans World Airlines Flight Center, JFK Airport

Washington Dulles International Airport

Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo

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Kresge Auditorium, MIT.

(Emma Hartman)Noyes house,Vassar Collegecampus, New York

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North Christian Church, Columbus, Indiana

7International StyleEERO SAARINENMIT CHAPEL, CAMBRIDGETheMIT Chapel is a non-denominationalchapeldesigned by Eero Saarinen. It is located on the campus of theMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.Though a small building, it is often noted as a successful example ofMid-century ModernArchitecture in the US.Through the sheer manipulation of light and the its focus on a blazingly white marble altar block, Saarinen created a place of mystic quietness.

8International StyleEERO SAARINENFrom the outside the chapel is a simple, windowless brick cylinder set inside a very shallow concrete moat. It is 50(5m) in diameter and 30 (9.1m) high, and topped by an aluminum spire.The brick is supported by a series of low arches. Saarinen chose bricks that were rough and imperfect to create a textured effect.The whole is set in two groves of birch trees, with a long wall to the east, all designed by Saarinen. The wall and trees provide a uniform background for the chapel, and isolate the site from the noise and bustle of adjacent buildings.

9International StyleEERO SAARINENWithin is an intimate space, stunning in its immediate visual impact. Windowless interior walls are undulating brick. Like a cascade of light, a full-height metal sculpture glitters from the circular skylight down to a small, unadorned marble altar.

Natural light filters upward from shallow slits in the walls catching reflected light from the moat; this dim ambient light is complemented by artificial lighting. The chapel's curving spire and bell tower (designed by the sculptorTheodore Roszak)was added in 1956

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Interiors of the Millers House

11International StyleEERO SAARINENTWA -Terminal, John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York.

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TWA -Terminal, John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York.

A chair in which one could curl up in.The Womb Chair is an enveloping, lap-like form continues to be one of the most iconic and recognized representations of mid-century Scandinavian organic modernism.THE WOMB CHAIRWith its steel rod base with a polished chrome finish and a frame upholstered in fabric over a fiberglass shell, the chair is designed to facilitate a relaxed sitting posture, providing emotional comfort and a sense of securityhence, the name Womb.13

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It's organic form is representative of the mid century Scandinavian modernism style of furniture using synthetic materials to create organically inspired forms.By applying foam molded over a fiberglass shell, Saarinen was able to create a single-piece form that perfectly facilitated a relaxed sitting posture and a sublime feeling of security. Additional seat and back cushions and the coordinating Womb Ottoman provide a further degree of lavish comfort.

The slender steel rod base is chrome-plated using a multiple step process that results in a flawlessly polished mirror finish. H 35.5" W 40" D 34" Seat H 16"

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Womb chair used in master bedrom

Womb chair used to view the exteriors

Womb chair in a reading room or Library

Designed by Eero SaarinenIt was designed primarily as a chair to match the complementary dining table.The chair is often considered "space age" for its futuristic use of curves and artificial materials. THE TULIP CHAIRThe base of the tulip chair is of cast aluminum with a rilsan-coated finish to match the upper shell, giving the appearance of a single unit. The upper shell is molded fiberglass, with a reinforced, plastic bonded finish. The upholstered foam cushion is removable with Velcro fastening.

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It's form is typical of this organic period of molded concrete architecture and plastic futuristic designs, which were derived from organic forms.

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Interiors of the Millers House the Tulip set is used in the interiors

GRASSHOPPER CHAIR

Designed by Eero SaarinenMaterials: Laminated wood frame with upholstered cushionsDimensions: W 26 1/2,D 34",H 35 19International StyleEERO SAARINEN

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ALVAR AALTO

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Aalvar Aalto was born in Kuortane, Finland.In 1916 he then enrolled to study architecture at the Helsinki University of Technology, graduating in 1921.In 1923 he returned to Jyvskyl, where he opened his first architectural office. Jyvskyl would become a notable city for his architecture, with more buildings designed by him than in any other city.Alvar altos principle was FUNCTIONALISM IN FURNITURE DESIGN.22International StyleALVAR AALTO

Otaniemi TechnicalUniversity, FinlandRed brick, black granite, and copper combine in Alvar Aalto's buildings for the Otaniemi Technical University in Espoo, Finland.

23International StyleStudied Architecture between 1916-1921 at the Technical University of Helsinki.Used wood instead of metal for his furniture. Started to produce his innovative plywood chairs in the1930s, and create a new trend in use of plywood.Built Paimio Sanatorium in Turku in 1930sHis ideas had a strong influence on designers of the period such as Charles and Ray Eames.Founded Artek, a furniture design company in 1935 with his colleagues Harry and Marie Gullichsen.

FinlandiaHallALVAR AALTODesigned the Villa Mairea, one of the admired buildings of modern architecture with his perception of organic links between people, nature and buildings.

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Seinajoki TownHallEnso-GutzeitHeadquartersALVAR AALTO

Headquarters for the WhiteGuards

25International StyleHis design philosophy was influenced by nature and organic materials, unlike other furniture of the same period with materials as tubular steel, which were quite modern at the time. Designed vases with curvilinear bases and straight sides for Savoy Restaurant TurkuWith his innovative designs and natural forms he changed the course of design towards organic Modernism.The beauty of his work is hidden in his design approach of Functionalism but with a strong connection to the organic relationship between man, nature and buildings. He coordinated these three components and created a synthesis of life in materialized form.He designed in very different scales ranging from buildings, town plans, furniture, glassware, jewellery and other forms of art.DESIGN PHILOSOPHIESALVAR AALTO

His design concepts were organic and using the human form. His buildings and chairs were first prompted by the user. The seats and handles were moulded to the human form. Of all architectural furniture, his is the closest to humanity.Alvar Aalto designed laminated timber furniture. He saw that tubular steel lacked human qualities. He used local Birchwood as a substitution for steel tubing. 26International StyleALVAR ALTOS FURNITURE DESIGNHe concluded that standardization and mass production could not be sustained in Finland's small economy. His chairs were the result of great study and investigation into, posture, laminated wood, aesthetic considerations and efficient mechanical methods of mass production. Alvar Aaltos furniture included: The Paimio ChairThe Viipuri Stacking Stools Cantilevered ChairALVAR AALTO

PAIMIO CHAIRPaimio Chair is said to have been influenced by the curved contours of the Finnish lakes.It is one of the most elegant modern chairs.The frame is laminated birch bent into a closed curve with solid birch cross-rails. The seat is molded from one piece of birch plywood. The springy plywood fixed on a closed frame was Aaltos brainstorm for making a wooden chair soft. The Paimio Chair is constructed from both two dimensional molded plywood and laminated timber.The curves are made by clamping layers of veneer and glue over a form to achieve the desired curved shapes.27International StyleALVAR AALTO

It was supported by cantilevered continuous arm and leg frame of laminated Birch plywood steam bent in the shape of a "C" and had horizontal braces to the back.The frame was thicker from the front of the seat down as there was more stress on the frame there.He constructed the frame with 7 layers of lamination and less for the arms and back as they required less reinforcement.28International StyleALVAR AALTO

Interior of the Tuberculosis Sanatorium in Paimio

VIIPURI STACKING STOOLS

The Viipuri collection of furniture complemented Aalto's forward thinking design.The stacking stool - this was made up of only four wooden parts, three Aalto Legs and a round seat. These three legged stools are versatile and functionalThe stack ability means that they are ideal for large gathering areas with small storage spaces. The legs were attached to the seat at 120 degree angles which meant they could interlock and stack easily.

29International StyleThey then take up a minimal storage space so are ideal for schools, meeting rooms or offices. They were available in children and adult sizes.The legs were varnished natural Birch timber and the seats were made from natural Birch timber, primary and white laminates.ALVAR AALTO

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Auditorium of the Viipuri Municipal Library

CANTILEVERED CHAIROtherwise known as the Cantilever chair no.31; Made of Bent laminated and solid birch frame with bent plywood seat section; has a more subtle curved form.

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Sofa 544designed byAlvar Aalto (1932)Lounge chair 43designed byAlvar Aalto

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Inspired by nature and made to Alvar Aalto's humanist design philosophy, the iconic form still proves to be as popular as it did when it was launched in 1937The Savoy Vase or the Aalto Vase

Tea trolley by Alto

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Chair 66designed by Alvar Aalto (1935)Pendant lamp A110desinged byAlvar Aalto (1952)

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Pendant lamp A331 Armchair 401 Bench 153B

Interior of Academic Bookshop, Helsinki

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Riihitie House, Helsinki

Interior of a summer HouseInterior of Finnish Pavilion

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Views of Villa Mairea, Finland Built in the middle of a Pine Forest

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Interior views of villa MaireaThe uneven patterning of polesstairs are designed to mimic the forests outdoorsBrick wall used as a sculptural element

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Interior views of villa Mairea