World English rights for THE STORY OF AINO AND ALVAR AALTO acquired by Phaidon Press!

The world’s leading publisher of books of the creative arts, Phaidon Press has acquired World English rights to The Story of Aino and Alvar Aalto by Aaltos’ grandson Heikki Aalto-Alanen. This unique work of art, based on unpublished correspondence of Aino and Alvar Aalto will be published as a beautifully illustrated book for the English speaking global market in 2022/2023 and will be translated by award-winning translator David Hackston. Rights have been previously sold to Soshisha in Japan and Postimees in Estonia for publication in 2022. In Finland, Otava published this beautiful work of art in August 2021.

“We are very proud to have acquired the rights for the English edition of Heikki Aalto Alanen’s book on Aino and Alvar Aalto. It is an honour to publish the great story of two talented individuals, who changed forever the course of modern architecture and design.”
– Emilia Terragni, Associated Publisher, Phaidon Press London.

Phaidon is the premier global publisher of the creative arts. Phaidon works with the world’s most influential authors to produce innovative books on art, photography, design, architecture, fashion, food, and travel, and illustrated books for children. Phaidon has a long and distinguished history as an art-book publisher with over 1,500 titles in print. With Headquarters in London and New York, and offices in Paris and Berlin, Phaidon now operates a global sales and distribution network, selling in over 100 countries.

The Story of Aino and Alvar Aalto is based on previously unpublished correspondence between the couple from 1921-1949 and compiled and written by Heikki Aalto-Alanen, a grandson of the Aaltos.

The book has been prepared with precision, thoroughness and with love as the material is intimate and belongs to the Aalto family archives. This is the love story of the world-famous, pioneering design couple Aino and Alvar Aalto.

In addition to the photographs from the family archive, the book is illustrated with Aino and Alvar’s drawings of each other and of their children, as well as landscape drawings made while traveling, along with other architectural drawings and photographs.

Download the reading materials from here.

The Finnish publisher Otava rejoices of the world conquest that the book is making. Literary Director Minna Castrén says, ”We congratulate Heikki Aalto-Alanen for the global  success of this exceptional book. In his work, Aalto-Alanen has exceeded our expectations: THE STORY OF AINO AND ALVAR AALTO is simply put – a treasure.”

Publishers’ praises:

“We are truly delighted for this opportunity to introduce such an extremely valuable book of correspondences written by the internationally renowned Finnish architects, Aino and Alvar Aalto, to Japan. The Aaltos are widely recognized in Japan as well, and the ideas which they pursued on design have been continuously referenced and implemented in the fields of architecture and design in Japan today. I believe that the Japanese people resonate with their deep understanding of human and nature through their design utilizing curved lines and wood. I am sure that Japanese readers are highly anticipating this book and its revelations about how the Aaltos have lived through tumultuous times and thought about design.“
– Kazuhiro Yoshida, Editor, Soshisha, Japan

 “When we think about great minds, we tend to see more of the result of their work than the people behind it. Aino and Alvar Aalto’s work in the field of design and architecture has had a great impact worldwide, representing beauty, harmony, and comfort. There are books and studies which can tell us many things about it, but I believe that none of them can ever be as personal and intimate as their own love story – written by their grandson. One can only imagine how much their creativity was nourished by their personal relationship. It will be extremely exciting to read their story and to get to know both of them almost as close as they knew each other. The fact that their creations have proven to be timeless since the day they were born is proof in itself of extraordinary, unbreakable love.”
– Piret Veigel, Senior Editor at Postimees Publishing House, Estonia