Enduring status.

ALVAR AALTO

By Nicholas Ray. London: Yale University Press. 2005. [pounds sterling]19.95

Over 50 years or so, Alvar Aalto realised around 200 buildings, some now recognised to be among the greatest of the twentieth century. Combined with urban, furniture and product design, these ensure Aalto's enduring status as one of the most important and prolific designers of the last century. This new book by Nicholas Ray is an introduction to the life and work of the Finnish architect, condensing decades of study and first hand experience into a compact volume. The book is split into three sections: a biography; a study of six of Aalto's most important buildings (the Paimio Sanatorium, Villa Mairea, Baker House, Saynatsalo, the National Pensions Institute and Finlandia Hall); and an analysis of recurrent themes and theories.

In a market already well-represented by a few very good Aalto monographs, the unique selling point of Ray's book lies in neither the biography, although this is a concise and engaging read, nor the case studies, even though well judged and illustrated, with previously unpublished photos by the author showing the buildings in use (although one occasionally has to look beyond fuzzy focusing to appreciate the quality of the spaces).

The originality is in the last section, which reappraises Aalto's ingenuity and influence in relation to five themes: nature, function, means, style and positive scepticism. Although Aalto's intense relationship with the landscape of Finland, and his overtly humanist and individual vocabulary have been discussed before, Ray's skill here is in grounding Aalto's complex and disparate theory (and theories of Aalto) within his built product, culminating in a summary of his legacy. The latter outlines his impact on architects like Venturi, Siza, Moneo and Miralles, and the way in which themes that were important to Aalto are being explored today. In fact, it would be welcome if this last chapter were longer; perhaps this is something to expand in future editions, allowing an ongoing critical reassessment of what can be seen as a particular strand of the modernist project.

What comes through in force throughout the book is the author's passion for his subject, finely balanced with solid research and theory, resulting in an important text on this most enigmatic of architects.