The Story of Aino and Alvar Aalto

Heikki Aalto-Alanen

Original title: Rakastan sinussa ihmistä – Aino ja Alvar Aallon tarina

Author: Heikki Aalto-Alanen

Published: 2021

Publisher: Otava

Genres: General Nonfiction, Memories & Biographies

Pages: 462

Reading material:

Finnish manuscript

English edition

The love story of the world-famous, pioneering design couple Aino and Alvar Aalto, written by the Aaltos’ grandson

Alvar and Aino Aalto are internationally celebrated for their architecture, furniture, glassware, and other interior design, but their personal lives have been relatively unknown – until now. This book, written by the Aaltos’ grandson, stands apart from countless other works on the Aalto’s lives and careers. It contains photos, sketches, and personal letters between Aino and Alvar, beautifully illustrating how inseparable this couple was both in work and love, and bringing a deeply human element to their story.

“Countless books have been written about Alvar Aalto’s architecture and other works. Recently, Aino Marsio-Aalto has also received the recognition she deserves in her own right as well as in her role as the partner of Alvar Aalto in his rise as one of the leading architects of the 20th century,” says Heikki Aalto-Alanen. “The voice in this book is personal. I want to tell the story of Aino’s and Alvar’s unique partnership, relationship, and their joint life work from the perspective of a family member. I also want their own voices to be heard.”

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

Publishers' praise:

"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.  It is extremely exciting to read their story and to get to know both of them almost as close as they knew each other." -Piret Veigel, Senior Editor at Postimees Publishing House, Estonia

"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.

“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

We are very proud to have acquired the rights for the English and French editions 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

Download reading materials

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
ESTONIA: Postimees
FRANCE: Phaidon Press
HUNGARY: Európa Könyvkiadó
ITALY: Salani
JAPAN: Soshisha
WORLD ENGLISH: Phaidon Press

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About author

Heikki Aalto-Alanen

Heikki Aalto-Alanen is the grandson of architects Aino and Alvar Aalto, who has previously served as vice chairman of the Alvar Aalto Foundation, been a member of Artek’s Board of Directors, member of the Alvar Aalto Academy Board, and held other positions maintaining Aino and Alvar Aalto’s artistic work and heritage. Today he is serving as the chairman of the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation, established in 2020 to preserve Aino and Alvar Aalto's early masterpiece. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Alvar and Aino Aalto Estate Ltd. Heikki Aalto-Alanen is a lawyer by profession and has worked in the Nordic financial market.

His book tells the story of Aino and Alvar Aalto, depicted through their previously unpublished correspondence from 1921-1949, photographs and drawings.

Bibliography


2021, General Nonfiction, Memories & Biographies

Heikki Aalto-Alanen

The Story of Aino and Alvar Aalto