Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) Finland

Born in Kuortane, Finland, Alvar Aalto studied architecture at the technical university of Helsinki from 1916 to 1921. Initially worked as an exhibit designer and later turned to architecture and furniture design. He became a member of the Congres Internationeaux d’ Architecture Moderne in 1928. In 1929 with Otto Korhonen he established an experimental plywood workshop in Turku. 1935 he founded a furniture design company named Artek with Harry and Marie Gullischen and in that same year patented a cantilevered chair support made of wood. Aalto’s work was shown to great acclaim in London at the exhibition of Finnish design held in 1933, in 1937 in a Paris exhibition and at the world fair in New York. In 1957 he was awarded the gold medal by the royal institute of British architects.