The Religious Architecture of Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto

This book provides the first critical examination of Studio Aaltos religious modern architecture. It challenges the notion that Aaltos work was autonomous from religion and demonstrates that his engagement with religion was integral to his modernism. The book explores designs for churches, parish centers, funerary chapels, and cemeteries in Finland, Denmark, Germany, and Italy and highlights the Church of the Three Crosses as the pinnacle of Aaltos sacred career. Through a detailed analysis of the religious actors and factors that shaped the design and construction of Aaltos sacred works, the book shows that religious influences were neither extrinsic nor peripheral to Aaltos modernism but intrinsic and intimately related to it. The study of primary archival materials establishes that Aaltos engagement with the Church was a consciously and productively symbiotic partnership that drew from shared interests and values, yet also encompassed compromise and conflict.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2023
Publisher: Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd

This book offers a comprehensive and critical examination of Studio Aaltos religious modern architecture. While Aaltos ecclesiastical oeuvre is often regarded as a distinctive subgenre within the broader practice, its relationship to religion has remained somewhat elusive. Previous discussions have attributed the longstanding collaboration between Aalto and the Church to mutual convenience, viewing the buildings as spatial and structural experiments devoid of explicit religious meanings or implications. However, this book challenges that notion and delves deeper into the intricate interplay between Aaltos designs and religious contexts.

Through a detailed analysis of designs for churches, parish centers, funerary chapels, and cemeteries in Finland, Denmark, Germany, and Italy, the book demonstrates that Aaltos engagement with religion went beyond mere artistic opportunism. It reveals that Aaltos sacred oeuvre encompassed a broader spectrum of religious expressions, reflecting his profound understanding and reverence for spirituality.

The book pays particular attention to the Church of the Three Crosses, widely considered the pinnacle of Aaltos sacred career. By conducting a thorough analysis of the religious actors and factors that influenced the design and construction of Aaltos sacred works, from local parish building committees to bishops, and from liturgical reform movements to post-war debates on sacred art, the book establishes that religious influences were not merely external or peripheral to Aaltos modernism but rather intrinsic and intimately intertwined with it.

The study of previously uncovered primary archival materials further solidifies this assertion. The book reveals that Aaltos engagement with the Church was a conscious and purposeful endeavor, driven by his deep religious convictions and a desire to create spaces that would inspire and uplift the faithful.

In conclusion, this book offers a groundbreaking exploration of Studio Aaltos religious modern architecture. It challenges the conventional understanding of Aaltos work and sheds light on the profound spiritual and religious dimensions that underlie his designs. Through a meticulous analysis of his sacred oeuvre and the broader religious contexts in which it was created, the book provides a fresh perspective on Aaltos contribution to the field of architecture and offers valuable insights into the complex relationship between art, religion, and society.

Weight: 1214g
Dimension: 197 x 257 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781848226227