Eliel Saarinen

Eliel Saarinen studied architecture at the Helsingfors (now Helsinki) Polytechnic. In 1897, he founded an architectural firm together with Herman Gesellius (1874-1916) and Armas Lindgren (1874-1929). They won the competition for the Finnish pavilion at the 1900 World’s Fair with their national romantic design and soon became leaders in Finland. The firm designed several public and residential buildings in Helsinki and developed a comprehensive national romantic interior design.

Saarinen parted ways with his partners in 1907. His most important works in the following years were the station buildings in Helsingfors and Viipuri (now Vyborg, RUS), Estobank in Reval (now Tallinn), the town hall in Lahti, and the townhouse in Joensuu. In the process, his style began to evolve in a more rational and classical direction. He developed city plans for Helsingfors, Tallinn, Budapest, and even Canberra in Australia, none of which were realized. Saarinen also designed Finland’s banknote series of 1909 and 1922, as well as a series of postage stamps.

Although he only placed 2nd, his 1922 design for the Chicago Tribune skyscraper earned Saarinen engagements in the USA and later a teaching position at Michigan University in Chicago. Beginning in 1923, he built the Cranbrook Academy of Architecture in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, as chief architect and principal. The institution is now considered the American equivalent of the German Bauhaus. Saarinen gained great influence and contributed significantly to the creation of a new American architectural style.

His second wife, Loja Saarinen (née Gesellius, 1879-1968) was a textile artist and sculptor, who founded the Weaving Department at the Cranbrook Academy. Saarinen’s son Eero (1910-1961) also became an important architect. Together they built several major buildings for General Motors, the Buildings Art Center in Des Moines, Iowa, the Kleinhans Concert Hall in Buffalo, N.Y., and two important churches, amongst others.

Saarinen acted as a judge at the art competitions in 1924 as well as in 1932.