Historic milestone: UNESCO declares thirteen Alvar Aalto buildings World Heritage

BarcelonaNew milestone for 20th-century architecture: UNESCO has declared thirteen works by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) World Heritage. Among the recognized buildings are some of Aalto's most famous works, such as the Paimio Sanatorium, Villa Mairea, the Experimental House of Muuratsalo, and two works the architect made for himself: the dwelling and a studio. "Rooted in Finnish building traditions and yet open to global modernist ideas, the works express a human-centered, site-specific, and empathetic vision that distinguishes Finland's contribution to modern architecture," states the UNESCO press release, which highlights the architect's collaboration with his first wife, Aino Marsio-Aalto, and with his second, Elissa Aalto, as well as with the workers in his studio.

UNESCO has also declared the Finland Hall congress center, the National Pensions Institute (KELA), the House of Culture in Helsinki, the residential area of the Sunila paper mill, the Church of the Three Crosses in Imatra, Säynätsalo Town Hall, the Aalto Campus of the University of Jyväskylä, and the Seinäjoki Civic Centre as World Heritage.

The World Heritage declaration is the most important recognition in the field of architecture. Aalto's recognition is doubly significant. The Finn is one of the great masters of 20th-century architecture, but the selection of 20th-century architecture is very restricted: UNESCO only includes some buildings from the Bauhaus school, Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer's Brasília, Jørn Utzon's Sydney Opera House, and works by Domènech i Montaner and Gaudí. Great modern masters like Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier were not incorporated into the list until a few years ago: Le Corbusier in 2016 and, three years later, eight buildings by Lloyd Wright. This year, at the assembly held in South Korea this Sunday, UNESCO also declared the modern architecture of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, as World Heritage.

Alvar Aalto conceived the thirteen buildings recognized by Unesco with the aim of improving people's daily lives through resources such as natural light and connection with the environment. In contrast to the geometric rigor and functionalism prevailing at the beginning of the 20th century, Aalto introduced more organic forms and an emotional component into his works. At the Paimio tuberculosis sanatorium, completed in 1933, Aalto took great care at all scales of the project, from the idea that a welcoming environment can contribute to patients' recovery to the chromatic palette of the interiors and the design of the furniture. For example, the washbasin sinks have inclined walls to reduce water noise, and the rooms have large windows to maximize light. "There is a real connection and dialogue between nature and architecture, and an authentic dialogue and relationship with human beings," assures the president of the board of trustees of the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation, Mirkku Kullberg. In another of the works declared Universal Heritage, the residential area of the Sunila paper mill, the characteristics of the environment were key in deciding where the homes were to be placed.

Mount Olympus and the beaches of Normandy, also distinguished

Together with the works of Alvar Aalto, UNESCO has also declared the Mount Olympus of Greece, a reference point in Greek mythology, and the beaches of Normandy, which were the scene of the landing of Allied forces at the end of World War II, as Universal Heritage. The list also includes the royal fortresses of Languedoc and the so-called Italian theaters in condominium style, dated between the 18th and 19th centuries; Alamut Castle in the Alborz mountains, in northern Iran; the migratory corridor of terrestrial animals of Boma-Badingilo, in South Sudan; the ancient Japanese capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara, and the African colonial agricultural plantations of São Tomé and Príncipe.