Alvar Aalto

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

— Alvar Aalto

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

— Alvar Aalto

Architecture belongs to culture, not to civilization.

— Alvar Aalto

Building art is a synthesis of life in materialised form. We should try to bring in under the same hat not a splintered way of thinking, but all in harmony together.

— Alvar Aalto

Building art is a synthesis of life in materialised form. We should try to bring in under the same hat not a splintered way of thinking, but all in harmony together.

— Alvar Aalto

We should concentrate our work not only to a separated housing problem but housing involved in our daily work and all the other functions of the city.

— Alvar Aalto

Nothing is as dangerous in architecture as dealing with separated problems. If we split life into separated problems we split the possibilities to make good building art.

— 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

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

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