Top 22 Quotes by Alvar Aalto

About Alvar Aalto

These are some quotes by Finnish author Alvar Aalto Architect, who lived between February 3, 1898 and May 11, 1976.

The very essence of architecture consists of a variety and development reminiscent of natural organic life. This is the only true style in architecture.

The very essence of architecture consists of a variety and development reminiscent of natural organic life. This is the only true style in architecture.

Alvar Aalto

Human life is a combination of tragedy and comedy. The shapes and designs that surround us are the music accompanying this tragedy and this comedy.

Human life is a combination of tragedy and comedy. The shapes and designs that surround us are the music accompanying this tragedy and this comedy.

Alvar Aalto

I do not write, I build.

I do not write, I build.

Alvar Aalto

The most difficult problems are naturally not involved in the search for forms for contemporary life. It is a question of working our way to forms behind which real human values lie.

The most difficult problems are naturally not involved in the search for forms for contemporary life. It is a question of working our way to forms behind which real human values lie.

Alvar Aalto

Architecture belongs to culture, not to civilization.

Architecture belongs to culture, not to civilization.

Alvar Aalto

Architecture is not merely national but clearly has local ties in that it is rooted in the earth.

Architecture is not merely national but clearly has local ties in that it is rooted in the earth.

Alvar Aalto

The ultimate goal of the architect...is to create a paradise. Every house, every product of architecture... should be a fruit of our endeavour to build an earthly paradise for people.

The ultimate goal of the architect...is to create a paradise. Every house, every product of architecture... should be a fruit of our endeavour to build an earthly paradise for people.

Alvar Aalto

God created paper for the purpose of drawing architecture on it. Everything else is, at least for me, an abuse of paper.

God created paper for the purpose of drawing architecture on it. Everything else is, at least for me, an abuse of paper.

Alvar Aalto

Once I tried to make a standardization of staircases. Probably that is one of the oldest of the standardizations. Of course, we design new staircase steps every day in connection with all our houses, but a standardized step depends on the height of the buildings and on all kinds of things.

Alvar Aalto

Just as it takes time for a speck of fish spawn to develop into a fully grown fish, so, too, we need time for everything that develops and crystallizes in the world of ideas. Architecture demands more of this time than other creative work.

Alvar Aalto

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