Villa Mairea. Alvar Aalto

Like Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye and Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, the Villa Mairea is one of the seminal houses of the 20th century. For the many who know it only from a few selective photographs, this book will tome as a revelation. In addition to a comprehensive photographic record, it contains the first accurate drawings of the house as built and numerous hitherto unpublished construction details. Aalto was at the height of his powers when he was given the opportunity to design an 'ideal' house, on a beautiful site, for rich and culturally adventurous clients. He drew on a deep understanding of vernacular building, classicism, and modernism (which have often been thought of as incompatible), and on a love of natural materials, to create a house that is humane, rich and lyrical. This book will appeal as much to the many people who are not architectural experts, but who love fine houses, as to architects and students.