A Cultural History of the Avant-Garde in the Nordic Countries: Alvar Aalto's Influence

Avant-Garde Critical Studies

Founding and Editorial Team

  • Founding Editors: Ferd Drijkoningen, Klaus Beekman

  • Editor: Geert Buelens

  • Associate Editors: Hubert van den Berg, Giinter Berghaus, Sascha Bru, Ljiljana Kolesnik

  • International Advisory Board: Henri Behar, Sophie Berrebi, Ralf Griittemeier, Hilde Heynen, Leigh Landy, Ben Rebel, Jan de Vries, Willem G. Weststeijn

Volume Information

  • Volume: 36

  • Title: A Cultural History of the Avant-Garde in the Nordic Countries

  • Series Editor: Tania 0rum

  • Editorial Assistant: Marianne 01holm

  • Publication Year: 2019

  • Location: School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Pohn M. Flaxman Library, 37 South Wabash, Chicago, IL 60603

  • Publisher: BRILL RODOPI, Leiden | Boston

A Cultural History of Avant-Garde

Overview

  • Focus: Examining the avant-garde movements within the Nordic countries from 1925 to 1950.

  • Editors: Benedikt Hjartarson, Andrea Kollnitz, Per Stounbjerg, Tania 0rum

Alvar Aalto's Contribution to Avant-Garde

Transformation in the 1930s

  • Aalto's Artistic Journey: Initially resistant to avant-garde labels, Aalto's works (circa 1930) exhibited transformative influences from Nordic avant-garde figures including:

    • Hagar Olsson (Finnish-Swedish playwright)

    • Sven Markelius (Swedish architect)

    • Poul Henningsen (Danish architect and critic)

  • Influence of Avant-Garde Genres: Aalto drew upon avant-garde theatre, film, and painting techniques, applying pioneering methods like formal fragmentation and integrating diverse media into architectural projects.

  • Psychological and Social Impact: Emphasized the transformative effects of architecture on users, advocating a human-centered design approach.

Context of Modernism in Turku

  • Turku, by late 1920s: Became the epicenter of Finnish modernism, possessing a vibrant art and theatre scene that was up-to-date with continental trends.

  • Architectural Influence: Aalto's move to Turku in 1927 catalyzed a radical modern architecture surge, supported by local cultural movements and steamboat connections to Stockholm.

  • Population Context: Despite its small size (50,000 inhabitants), Turku hosted significant artistic developments that Aalto capitalized on.

Aalto's Social Network

  • Connections: Aalto established a network with influential architects, critics, and artists throughout the Nordic region, including key figures from Sweden and Denmark, such as:

    • Gunnar Asplund

    • Uno Ahren

    • Gregor Paulsson

  • Literature and Critique: Aalto actively engaged with contemporary publications, contributing to magazines like Kritisk Revy and Spektrum, reflecting on modern architecture and its relation to societal shifts.

Shift in Architectural Philosophy

  • Aalto's Critique of Capitalism: Emphasized the need for architecture to respond to social and economic transformations, focusing on enhancing public well-being while combatting empty aesthetics.

  • Framework of New Realism: Inspired by Poul Henningsen, Aalto's essay “New Realism” spotlighted the necessity for architecture to connect with real-life conditions instead of formalist dogmas.

Innovative Architectural Ideas

Architectural Style and Media Integration

  • Engagement with New Media: Aalto's designs incorporated multimedia elements such as:

    • Photography and sound

    • Light and film

  • Integration of elements aimed for a collective experience among users, breaking away from individualist approaches in architecture.

Avant-Garde Projects

  • Unfinished Projects: Notably the "Rationel Biograf" (The Rational Cinema), demonstrating Aalto's desire to redefine viewer experience through innovative design.

    • Emphasis: Transition from traditional formats to allowing a more immersive aesthetic experience through architectural design, providing psychological connections.

    • Aalto's Lighting Designs: Influenced greatly by the work of Henningsen, with an interest in how lighting impacts architectural space and psychological engagement.

The Role of Theatre

  • Influence of Theatre on Architectural Design: Aalto's experience in avant-garde theatre underpinned his approach, as he sought to merge the audience's experience with architectural space.

    • Notable Examples: Designed settings for theatrical productions that intensified the emotional and psychological impact on audiences, as reflected in his work for the pacifist play “S.O.S.” by Hagar Olsson.

Aalto's Ideological Shift and Global Context

Sociopolitical Influences

  • Reception of Expressions: Aalto's architecture began reflecting more systemic concerns leading up to and during socio-political upheaval, including his response to leftist ideologies and modernist experiments in the Soviet Union.

  • Notion of Collective Experience: His focus on macro social structures was evident in his writings and architectures, pushing against conventional individualist aesthetics following the 1929 stock market crash.

Conclusion

  • Legacy: Aalto’s works intertwine the influences of avant-garde art with the need for social consciousness in architecture, pushing the boundaries of how architecture interacts with daily life and societal conditions.