Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) Finland

Finnish architect and designer Alva Aalto studied at the University of Technology in Helsinki from 1916 to 1921. Aalto was heavily inspired by Art Nouveau, its relation to the dynamic forms and its aim to adapt architecture to the living environment.
In 1927 Aalto won two major neoclassical architectural competitions.
Together with Swedish colleagues Gunnar Asplund and Sven Markelius, Aalto was involved in the strongly rooted functionalist movement and its social idealism on the continent. In early 1928 Aalto designed one of the first completely functional style houses in the Nordic countries. Through its glass facades, undulating lines and windowless brick walls, Aalto was a pioneer in modern architecture. Aalto is best known for Villa Mairea and Finlandia Hall in Helsinki.