Innovative Aalto

Exhibition at the Innogallery of the National Board of Patents and Registration
Nov. 20, 2002 – March 30, 2003

Alvar Aalto is one of the great men of Finnish architecture, but his patents and inventions have remained unknown. Now they are for the first time displayed to the public at the ‘Innovative Aalto’ exhibition. The freshest Finnish innovations, the prize-winners in the INNOFINLAND 2002 contest are presented at the same exhibition.

Alvar Aalto is known as an innovative architect whose creative touch was reflected in the most minute details of the works he designed. While still in his early years he was absorbed in the fascinating world of the Book of Inventions and from it gathered information on the technical innovations of those days. Later on, part of the inventive and experiment-minded architect’s own inventions ended up as patents. In the years from 1934 to 1965 Aalto was granted patents for a total of seven inventions – some of them were also patented abroad.

The most significant ones of Aalto’s patents relate to methods of bending wood. They are part of the industrial furniture-making process from an idea to an innovation and to a finished product. Intense cooperation with the Turku-based O.y Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas A.b (which is today known as Huonekalutehdas Korhonen Oy) furthered the technical developing of the ideas and enabled their utilisation in the industrial-scale production of Aalto furniture.

The exhibition presents–for the first time–all the seven patents granted to Aalto and documents and letters connected with their respective application procedures. There are also some pieces of furniture and the model of a lamp in which these inventions have been utilised. The technical realisation of the inventions is illustrated by means of the objects used in the bending process of a leg of a piece of furniture.

The National Board of Patents and Registration and the Alvar Aalto Museum have cooperated in preparing the part of the exhibition presenting Alvar Aalto’s patents. The outward appearance of the exhibition was designed by architect Timo Ripatti. The texts at the exhibition are based on architect Marianna Heikinheimo’s study on Aalto’s patents.

Besides the ‘Innovative Aalto’ exhibition, Innogallery also accommodates the inventions awarded by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen in the INNOFINLAND 2002 contest and also the award-winning inventions in the INNOINT and INNOSCHOOL contests. The INNOFINLAND prize is awarded to such innovative enterprise, organisation or person whose ideas, inventions or innovations have substantially promoted skill, enterprise and cooperation in Finland. The exhibition is mounted by the National Board of Patents and Registration.

Innogallery of the National Board of Patents and Registration
Olavinkatu 1, Helsinki
Open Monday to Friday 8.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.
Entrance free

Further information:
Kastehelmi Nikkanen
Exhibition assistant
GSM 040 549 2737
kastehelmi.nikkanen@prh.fi