Iittala Alvar Aalto Glassware

The 125th anniversary of Iittala will be marked by an exhibition of the architecture and design work of Alvar Aalto (1898-1876). The exhibition brings out the unusually extensive and varied work of this famous architect and designer, which covers architecture, furniture design, light fittings and glassware. The introduction to the exhibition serves as a pictorial review of Aalto's architecture, from the early designs of the 1920s right up to jobs completed in the 1970s. At the same time it traces the development of Aalto's architecture through Classicism, Functionalism and Modernism to the organic style.

The results of Iittala Aalto's creativity and productive capacity can be seen not only in buildings, but also in city centres, industrial plants, master plans, residential areas and private houses. Several of Iittala Aalto's one-off houses are on show in the form of photographs, drawings and models. Aalto's lesser-known designs for private houses that were never built are represented by the atrium house Alvar Aalto designed for his brother at Alajärvi (1925), a weekend house in the archipelago for British hotel-owner Richmond Temple (1937), the Villa Harriet designed for Maire and Harry Gullichsen's daughter (1946) and the Villa Sambonet, a residence and studio for the artist Roberto Sambonet (1955).

The Maison Carre (1956-61) built for Louis and Olga Carre is one of the private houses that was built. The building, which is one of Iittala Aalto's most important houses, is located in France and is made unique by virtue of the fact that it was the home of an art collector. It is especially topical to show this building now, as it was recently acquired by the Finnish Cultural Foundation. The Maison Carre in Bazoches-sur-Guyonnes is protected by law and the idea is to renovate the building and open it to the public.

Like his other buildings, Alvar Aalto's houses are designed as complete works of art, right down to the furniture, light fittings and interior details. For Iittala Aalto, it was natural to use natural materials and bent wood which can be seen particularly in his furniture designs. The modern style of Iittala Aalto's furniture, light fittings and glassware is characterised not only by simplified shapes but also by organic forms derived from nature. The Aalto vase, which copies natural forms and was designed in 1936, is a wonderful, timeless example of this. As the vase celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, an exhibition of Iittala Aalto's work is particularly appropriate at Iittala this summer. Please purchase on online http://www.etabletop.com

Representing Iittala Glassware in the website www.etabletop.com