Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto (February 3, 1898 — May 11, 1976) was a Finnish architect and designer, who sometimes was called the "Father of Modernism" in the Scandinavian countries. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware. He is also known for his strong cooperation with the Ahlström-Gullichsen family.
Aalto's wide field of activity ranged from furniture and glassware designs to architecture and painting. His legendary glassware includes the world-famous Aalto Vase. He invented a new form of laminated bent-plywood furniture in 1932. Aalto furniture is manufactured by Artek, a company Aalto co-founded with his wife Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichsen (Ahlström — Gullichsen family) and Nils-Gustav Hahl. Aalto glassware is manufactured by Iittala.
Aalto's career includes the changes in style from pre-modernism (Nordic Classicism) to purist International Style Modernism to a more synthetic and idiosyncratic approach.
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