The Birth of the Finnish Modern

The English edition of my latest book is now in the book shops. The Birth of the Finnish Modern tells about the early years of the Finnish modern architecture and interior design.

Modernism reached Finland during the 1920s and 1930s via the city of Turku. The key milestone in the new style of architecture and furniture design was the 1929 Turku Fair.

Architect Alvar Aalto, who lived in Turku, and furniture-factory owner Otto Korhonen worked together to develop a series of items of furniture that became classics of Functionalism and established a reputation at exhibitions around the world. They created for Finland a reputation as one of the leading countries in modern design.

Aalto furniture is still being manufactured at the Kaarina factory of Huonekalutehdas Korhonen which celebrated its centenary in autumn 2010.

You can order the book from The Alvar Aalto Shop.