AA Contest Collection

Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) is probably the most famous Finnish architect and designer in the world. In 1921 Alvar Aalto received his Diploma in Architecture from the Helsinki Institute of Technology and it was then that his career as an architect began. One of the most important works he was commissioned to design was the Paimio Sanatorium in Finland, a hospital formerly used for the treatment of tuberculosis patients, and still active today as a regular hospital. This project also marked the beginning of Alvar Aalto's career as a furniture designer - in fact this was the first building designed by Alvar Aalto and entirely furnished with furniture designed by Aalto himself - including the lighting.