Saarinen

Saarinen. The name is synonymous with a transformative period in mid-century modern design, encompassing both groundbreaking architecture and iconic furniture. Principally referring to the father-son duo of Eliel Saarinen and Eero Saarinen, their collective work helped define the aesthetic and aspirations of post-war America. While Eliel established a foundational legacy in Finland and at the Cranbrook Educational Community, Eero achieved international fame with his expressive, structurally innovative forms that became landmarks of the Jet Age.

Early life and education

The architectural dynasty began with Eliel Saarinen, born in 1873 in Rantasalmi, Finland. He first gained prominence in Europe, winning second place in the 1922 competition for the Chicago Tribune Tower, a result that brought him significant acclaim and prompted his immigration to the United States. In 1925, he became president of the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, turning it into a seminal center for the Arts and Crafts movement and modern design. His son, Eero Saarinen, was born in 1910 in Kirkkonummi, Finland, and moved with the family to the United States in 1923. Eero studied sculpture at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris before earning a degree in architecture from Yale University in 1934. He further honed his skills working for his father and traveling extensively in Europe, absorbing influences from contemporary architectural trends.

Architectural career

Eliel Saarinen's career bridged National Romantic style in Finland and a refined, modern Neoclassicism in America, with major works including the Helsinki Central Railway Station and the master plan for the Cranbrook Educational Community. Eero Saarinen launched his independent practice after his father's death in 1950, quickly emerging as a leading figure of American corporate and institutional architecture. He became known for a philosophy that each building's form should express its unique function and context, leading to a highly varied but consistently dramatic body of work. His firm, later known as Eero Saarinen and Associates, attracted talented collaborators like Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo, who would continue its legacy. Key commissions came from major entities like General Motors, IBM, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Furniture and industrial design

Parallel to their architectural work, both Saarinens made profound contributions to furniture design, primarily through their association with Knoll, a leading modern furniture manufacturer. While at Cranbrook, Eliel and his wife, textile artist Loja Saarinen, fostered a design studio that produced important works. Eero's furniture designs, created in close collaboration with Knoll founder Florence Knoll, are among the most recognizable of the 20th century. His Tulip chair and Womb chair, with their organic, sculptural forms and innovative use of materials like molded plastic and fiberglass, became icons of modern interiors. These pieces were often designed as integral components for his architectural projects, such as the furnishings for the General Motors Technical Center.

Major works and projects

The Saarinen portfolio includes some of the most photographed structures of modern architecture. Eliel Saarinen's key projects include the Cranbrook School, First Christian Church (Columbus, Indiana), and the Tabernacle Church of Christ. Eero Saarinen's works are noted for their formal diversity and technical ambition. His major projects include the soaring Gateway Arch in St. Louis, a monument of stainless steel that defines the city's skyline; the bird-like TWA Flight Center at John F. Kennedy International Airport, a masterpiece of Expressionist architecture; and the elegant, mobile-lounge equipped Dulles International Airport terminal near Washington, D.C.. Other significant works are the MIT Chapel and Kresge Auditorium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the IBM Manufacturing and Training Facility in Rochester, Minnesota, and the CBS Building in New York City.

Legacy and influence

The Saarinen legacy profoundly shaped the trajectory of modern design. Eero Saarinen's death in 1961 at age 51 cut short a remarkably fertile career, but his firm was continued by his associates Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo, who completed his unfinished projects like the St. Louis Arch and went on to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize. The expressive, structural daring of Eero's work presaged later architectural movements like Postmodernism and Blobitecture. Major retrospectives of his work have been held at institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and the Yale University Art Gallery. The enduring popularity of his furniture designs for Knoll ensures his aesthetic remains embedded in contemporary culture, while his buildings continue to be celebrated as landmarks of American optimism and innovation during the Cold War era.

Category:American architects Category:Finnish architects Category:Modernist architects Category:Furniture designers