

1 Renwen Chen s3498799
Contents
Introduction…………………………………………………….3
Designer………………………………………………………..4
Idea Influence………………………………………………….5
Ideation……………….…..……………………………………6
Detail Design………………………………………………….11
Reflection……………………………………………………..12
Reference………………………………………………….….13
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Introduction  
In this class, we learn some history of 20th century furniture design. We will learn the master work in different periods of last century from diffident designer. From the study, we need to analyst the impact between the famous designs and the artwork, social, revolution and new technology in that period. We can find out the special element from different furniture and learn the new design element and design language that they bring.
In this folio, I will focus on Alvar Aalto who is a famous Finnish architect and design. The following pages will introduce his lifetime and the master design of him. Base on the analyst of his design element, I will try to design something in his styles
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Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, textile and glassware. The span of his career, from the 1920s to the 1970s, is reflected in the style of his work, ranging from Nordic Classicism of the early work, to a rational International Style Modernism during the 1930s to a more organic modernist style from the 1940s onwards.
From his early architecture design, he tried to created a building with a majestic feeling. The shape of the buildings and the decoration line of the buildings are increasing the sensation of volume. Even the single-family houses were all in manor-like house feeling. Buildings that are used this style just like a light in front of you. You will never ignore it.
But he accepted Rational International Style Modernism and began to use the new design element near 1930s. The Viipuri Municipal Library, although exhibiting a similar dependence on European prototypes by Gropius and others, is a significant departure marking Aalto’s personal style. Aalto devised an undulating acoustic ceiling of wooden strips, a fascinating detail that, together with his use of curved laminated wood furniture of his own design, appealed both to the public and to those professionals who had held reservations about the clinical severity of modern architecture.
When we mention the furniture design of Alvar Aalto, we have to talk about the steam bending plate which is a technology that improved by himself. We can say the significant of his furniture design is using the bending wood in his design. Base on it, he make his design can build with nature material(wood) and able to make with a organic shape. So, the product will looks more friendly.
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Idea Influence
Element: From Alvar Aalto’s works, we can easy to find that he always used the organic shape but not some sharp shape. Curve, hook face and arc can be seen in vase, chair and lamp. All the finish products look very clean, nothing will be the extra decoration. Because he always considered the user, his design look so friendly and peaceful that can push you to use it.
Technology: Steaming bending wood is a new technology at that time and Alvar Aalto improve the technology. All of his furniture design can show this technology. Once he got a now improvement about steaming bending wood, he would use it in the following series design, For example, he design a lot of stools or table by using Y leg and X leg.
Material: He preferred using some nature material, that is one of the reasons that why he try to improve the steaming bending technology. At the very beginning, he use metal tube in his design. But after 1930, he never use metal tube any more. But He may use the plastic and glass in his design. Just make sure those material use will no brake the whole feeling of the chair.
Color: Color chose should be careful, except the Aalto Vase, most of his designs only have three color: Black, White and Brown(wood color). 
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Detail Design Material: Table leg: Birch wood Table board: Glass
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Reflection
Compare with the first assignment, this assignment more about the detail work. Last one we just make a poster about his life time and the overview of his work. It is all about reading and organize language. This time, because I need to imitate his style and design something in his style. I have to search all his work in furniture field and analysis them. Then I list all the similar element and differences of all the design. Try to find out the shape, the color and the development ways he like. Put myself into his world and change my aesthetic to his channel. When I do that, I learn more about his work. It is not only about memory. I found that I can recognize his work that I never sew before. In the design process, I just start from the organic shape and add the design element from Alvar Aalto. For example, I will add some X legs with the chair or make the lampshade to layers. Copy is not good, But imitation is a good way to learn.
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Reference
Architect, Aalto Alvar, view Sept.12,2016 http://architect.architecture.sk/alvar-aalto-architect/alvar-aalto-architect.php Chilvers, Ian, ed. 2004. Aalto, Alvar. The Oxford Dictionary of Art. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Jencks, Charles ,1973. Modern Movements in Architecture. Garden City, NY: Anchor Press. H.F. Koeper, 2015, Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto, view Sept. 15,2016 https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alvar-Aalto
Jan Michl, Alvar Aalto’s Savoy Vase, View Sept. 12 2016 http://janmichl.com/eng.aalto.html
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