Alvar Aalto

The most important of the "second-tier" pioneer modernists is the Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto (1898-1976). Aalto's career began amid the romanticism and Nordic nationalism of Lars Sonck and Eliel Saarinen, with its links to Neoclassicism and Jugendstil movements of the late 19th century.

Americans were able to see an Aalto design at first hand at the New York World's Fair of 1939. The box-like interior space of the Finnish exhibit was made remarkably interesting by the introduction of flowing, free-form walls. There was a wall of wood strips over the main exhibit space that screened additional exhibit space on an upper level.

A balcony restaurant with provision for film projection from a startling suspended free-form projection booth completed the exhibit. In spite of its small size and somewhat obscure location at the fair, Aalto's design attracted highly favorable critical comment.

amid -среди

link -связь

strip -полоска

exhibit space – выставочное пространство

to screen – загораживать, закрывать

startling – поразительный, потрясающий

suspended -подвесной

projection booth – проекционная будка

obscure – зд. невыгодный

favorable – благосклонный, благоприятный

comment – замечание, комментарий

2. Find the English equivalents in the text:

вторая волна, карьера, конец 19-го века, напоминающее коробку внутреннее пространство, из первых рук, деревянные полоски, дополнительный, предусматривать проекцию фильмов, экспонат, несмотря на, невыгодное месторасположение, очень благосклонный.

3. Answer the questions:

1. What is Alvar Aalto?

2. Who influenced the works of Alvar Aalto?

3. What was his introduction into design?

4. What did a wall of wood strips help to make?

5. What disadvantages did his work face at the New York World's Fair of 1939?

6. What kind of comment did his work get at the New York World's Fair of 1939?

Part 4