Exhibitions
Designing with the soul: the Aaltos' humanist revolution
The duo of Maurizio Cattelan and Alvar Aalto are the two main protagonists of the Serralves Foundation during this summer period, which will run until early 2026. The exhibition about the Finnish architect and designer will be on view until January 4th. It includes 31 architectural projects selected to focus on Aalto's work in collaboration with Aino and Elissa.
This is the first major exhibition in Portugal dedicated to Alvar Aalto, highlighting his legacy and influence on contemporary Portuguese architecture, particularly Álvaro Siza. In addition to this important pillar, it is also part of the Alvar Aalto Museum's new strategy to expand its global presence through collaborations such as this one with the Serralves Foundation.
Alvar Aalto made important contributions, such as creating functionalist architecture with a humanist approach, but he was also a furniture and object designer, pioneering the use of molded plywood, and leaving behind creations such as the Paimio chair and the Savoy vase.
MIT Baker House, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (1947-49).
In the Álvaro Siza Wing of the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, and to mark the upcoming fiftieth anniversary of the death of Alvar Aalto, one of the most influential figures in the history of modern architecture, this exhibition focuses on the vast output he developed alongside his two life and creative partners: Aino and Elissa. Together, the Aaltos promoted a profoundly humanist vision of architecture, characterized by a harmonious integration with nature and an aesthetic sensibility that transcended the built environment. Their legacy not only transformed 20th-century architectural thought but also gave rise to a prolific collection of design objects that remain benchmarks to this day.
“The Aalto brothers’ human approach, which places humans and nature at the center of architecture and design, is more important now than ever. The exhibition at the Serralves Museum is the beginning of the Alvar Aalto Museum’s new strategy to take an active role in contemporary international architecture and design discussions,” says Jukka Savolainen, director of the Alvar Aalto Foundation Museum.
Helsinki University, Espoo, Finland (1949-74).
Alvar Aalto is important because he transformed modern architecture by making it more humane, warm, and functional, leaving a profound influence on both 20th-century design and architecture. His legacy can be seen in Serralves and extends beyond his buildings: it encompasses an entire philosophy of how spaces should be inhabited.
