Architect Eliel Saarinen, whose works are distinguished by simplicity, geometric shapes, extraordinary elegance and subtlety of taste

Passing the gallery

Text: Lyudmila Kryshtaleva

Magazine: N4 (49) 2001

The past century is the eclectic age. If earlier aesthetic pleasure was based on the recognition of subtle modulations, now we are pleased with the meeting with things from different eras and countries. The more they differ from each other, the stronger our joy becomes. It's nice to feel like a cosmopolitan, a little tired of what he saw and experienced in two thousand years. Probably, these feelings explain the fashion for remakes of Le Corbusier, Macintosh, Wright, Ims, Bertoyi ... And one more character worthy of the attention of descendants. Eliel Saarinen is the father of the world famous Eero Saarinen. However, dad did in the design, perhaps no less. Eliel was a teacher for several generations of American designers of the 20s-40s. In Cranbrook Academy of Art, the first president of which he was, studied, in addition to Eero, such eminent figures as Charles Eames, Harry Bertoy, Florence Knoll. However, in America our hero turned out to be already an architect in 1922. This happened after his Chicago Tribune Tower skyscraper project won the competition. Before that, Eliel had built many wonderful buildings in Helsinki. But how does such a grand scale combine with the intimacy of furniture and accessories? At the turn of the century, all advanced architects were passionate about the idea of ​​recreating a holistic space - from the exterior to interior details. Russian modern, French art nouveau, German Jugend-style - all these are branches of a single stream, which the Finns have joined, partly due to the efforts of Eliel. For his home and for the academy, he created furniture, accessories, textiles, and carpets (the latter with his wife). These things are distinguished by geometric shapes and patterns, plus simplicity, extraordinary elegance and subtlety of taste.