Eliel Saarinen(1873-1950)
After his school education, Saarinen studied painting and architecture in Helsinki. He then initially worked in his home country of Finland. In the Finnish capital Helsinki he realized his most important work, the train station, which was completed between 1910 and 1914. Saarinen received orders in numerous national and European cities such as Tallinn in Finland, Canberra in Australia and Budapest in the Czech Republic. He developed into a specialist in urban planning issues. Saarinen dealt with the problems of rapid growth in large cities. In 1900, the architects Armas Lindgren, Herman Gesellius and Eliel Saarinen designed the Finnish pavilion for the World's Fair in Paris. The building was extremely well received by critics. At that time, Finland was still a Russian Grand Duchy.
On August 20, 1919, Saarinen's son Eero was born, who would also become an important architect. Architecture played an important role in the newly founded nation state of Finland in 1917, as did other cultural achievements such as music. The so-called "Munkkiniemi" plan for a new district of Helsinki was created as early as 1915. The project had the significance of Finland's largest urban utopia. Eliel Saarinen was involved with his design "Pro Helsingfors" together with Bertel Jung. In 1918 Saarinen's plan was completed. It affected the structural structure of Helsinki, which was thereby redefined. In 1923, Saarinen left Finland and moved to the United States. He initially taught there at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills. He later became a partner of Armas Lindgren. Saarinen also pursued the topic of urban development in the United States. He made a name for himself in this field in Chicago and Detroit, among other places.
Saarinen's specialty also included high-rise construction, which he gave a new character by structuring his projects vertically. The Finnish architect realized, among other things, the Des Moines Art Center in Des Moines (1948), the museum and library of the Cranbook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills (1943), and the Dirst Christian Curch - Taberbacle Church of Christ in Columbus in the US state Indiana (1940-1942), the Smithsonian Art Gallery in Washington D.C. (1939). His projects also included the Crow Island Elementary School in Winnetka (1939/40), the Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo (1938), the Cranbook Academy in Bloomfield Hills (1928-1940), the Chicago Tribune Tower in Chicago (1922), the Mutual Loan Society Building in Reval, Tallin (1912), the Hvitträsk residential complex in Hvitträsk (1902) or the Helsinki National Museum in Helsinki (1902-1910).
Eliel Saarinen died on July 1, 1950 in Bloomfield, Michigan.
On August 20, 1919, Saarinen's son Eero was born, who would also become an important architect. Architecture played an important role in the newly founded nation state of Finland in 1917, as did other cultural achievements such as music. The so-called "Munkkiniemi" plan for a new district of Helsinki was created as early as 1915. The project had the significance of Finland's largest urban utopia. Eliel Saarinen was involved with his design "Pro Helsingfors" together with Bertel Jung. In 1918 Saarinen's plan was completed. It affected the structural structure of Helsinki, which was thereby redefined. In 1923, Saarinen left Finland and moved to the United States. He initially taught there at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills. He later became a partner of Armas Lindgren. Saarinen also pursued the topic of urban development in the United States. He made a name for himself in this field in Chicago and Detroit, among other places.
Saarinen's specialty also included high-rise construction, which he gave a new character by structuring his projects vertically. The Finnish architect realized, among other things, the Des Moines Art Center in Des Moines (1948), the museum and library of the Cranbook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills (1943), and the Dirst Christian Curch - Taberbacle Church of Christ in Columbus in the US state Indiana (1940-1942), the Smithsonian Art Gallery in Washington D.C. (1939). His projects also included the Crow Island Elementary School in Winnetka (1939/40), the Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo (1938), the Cranbook Academy in Bloomfield Hills (1928-1940), the Chicago Tribune Tower in Chicago (1922), the Mutual Loan Society Building in Reval, Tallin (1912), the Hvitträsk residential complex in Hvitträsk (1902) or the Helsinki National Museum in Helsinki (1902-1910).
Eliel Saarinen died on July 1, 1950 in Bloomfield, Michigan.
