The Aaltos

Aino

graduated as an architect from Helsinki Institute of Technology. She started out as a carpenter intern before moving on to an architectural office. Aino and Alvar married shortly after she started working for his office and collaborated closely until Ainos death in 1949. (Suominen-Kokkonen, 2014)

Graduated as an architect from Helsinki Institute of Technology one year after Aino in 1921 (Alvar Aalto Foundation, n.d.). Alvar has been the most known of the Aalto’s and historically been credited with the designs of most Aalto buildings. But later his collaboration with his wives has been more acknowledged. (Viljo, 2014)

Graduated as an architect in 1949 from Helsinki Institute of Technology. She directly began working for Alvar and they married in 1952, three years after Ainos death. After Alvars death she worked to complete unfinished projects of Aalto and leading restoration projects of earlier Aalto buildings. (Alvar Aalto Foundation, n.d.)

Alvar

Elissa

Even though Alvar is the Aalto mainly accredited with the designs by the Aalto studio one can not look beyond the work of both Aino and Elissa. Most likely a product of the role of men and women at the time they have both been overshadowed by Alvar. Perhaps another reason is how Alvar thrived in social contexts, enjoying the spotlight and networking that came with running a company (Viljo, 2014). Another reason for the women being forgotten could also be found in the fact that the works were simply signed Aalto/ the name of the office rather than any specific arhitect (Alvar Aalto Foundation, n.d.).

Looking at Artek on the other hand exposes Aino and Elissas work a bit more, especially Ainos. She acted both as the head of the Artek drawing office and later as CEO of the whole company (SuominenKokkonen, 2014), which not only shows that she had part in Alvars work but also that she in fact had more influence in the Aaltos work to the point that she without question was her own architect and designer with or without the need to mention her role as Alvars wife. In the film Aalto: Architect of Emotions in the letters Alvar and Aino sent during their time apart it also becomes clear that Aino many times had full control over the interior design and mainly furnishing in their projects (Suutari, 2020).

Elissa also designed for Artek, for example printed textiles (Hipeli, 2012, 41). Although there is no mention of Elissa in the Designer section of the Artek webpage (Artek, n.d.). Elissa’s focus as Alvar grew older and in the end died, moved from designing and leading projects, for example Villa Hauta-aho and Säynätsalo Town Hall to, so to speak, finishing already started or designed projects. Working with restoration and together with the Alvar Aalto foundation making the vast archives of Aalto work we have today possible (Alvar Aalto Foundation, n.d.).