Eliel Saarinen
Eliel Saarinen
Eliel Saarinen together with his associates Herman Gesellius and Armas Lindgren were the pioneers of Finnish architectural identity.
"Eliel Saarinen's professional breakthrough coincides with the national romantic rise of Finnish culture at the turn of the century. it involved the building of Finnish identity for every branch of cultural activity: in music, literature, the visual arts, and architecture. The themes that were expressed in jean Sibelius's music, Juhani Aho's novels, Eino Leino's poetry or Akseli Gallen-Kallela's paintings, were also carved in wood and stone in the works of such young architects as Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren and Eliel Saarinen. This period of independent national emphasis was however also marked by a close interchange with international cultural currents. The artists who set out to seek the roots of Finnish natiionality were at the same time a part of a revolutionary movement that on the continent received the name Jugendstil or art nouveau. Among the architects, Eliel Saarinen in particular showed a tendency toward internationalism at an early stage. He built in france, Estonia and Germany but he also drew successful competition designs for projects outside Europe, in Australia, Egypt and the United States. In a small remote country this kind of international scale was unprecedented at the time.
One of the central principles of Finnish national romantic Jugendstil architecture was the ideal of Gesamkundswerk, a total art work in which applied art, architecture and town planning were integrated to form an environmental whole. In the life-work of Eliel Saarinen, this objective became a lasting principle."
Markku Komonen," Saarinen in Finland. Museum of Finnish Architecture, 1984".
All images are from " Saarinen in Finland. Museum of Finnish Architecture. 1984"
Design for a living room, 1901. Water colour.
Suur-Merijoki,oldest son's bedroom. Water colour.
Entrance lobby, Suur-Merijoki (Probably unrealized design.) 1902. Water colour.
Design for hall at Suur-Merijoki, 1902. Water colour.
Library at Suur-Merijoki, 1903. Water colour.
Design for bathroom at Suur-Merijoki, 1903. Water colour.
I find it especially inspiring to observe how all elements in the interiors; details, colours and textures are integrated and coordinated into a unified whole. I have attempted to find suitable materials and components of environment, such as furniture and carpets, in my own work however in many instances I have chosen to design my own to suit the project and budget.