Drawn in Sand - architeria.eu

ARCHITECTURE EXHIBITION
Architekturmuseum der TU München
Munich, Germany

Drawn in Sand – Unrealised Visions by Alvar Aalto
12 June - 21 September 2008

The first sketches for a project frequently illustrate more clearly than the actually realised building the basic
design idea of an architect. In the early planning stage concepts and drawings often reflect the architectural
vision in a pure form, regardless of any concessions or later necessary cutbacks. Preliminary drafts mirror
both the ideal conception and the designing process, thus the sketch often brings us closer to the architect
than the building itself.

Among the outstanding architects of the 20th century Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) is one of the most significant
draughtsmen. He once explained his passion for drawing as follows: „God created paper in order to draw
architectural plans“. The Finnish architect’s sketches not only are of the highest artistic quality but also
represent an essential part of his works, since more than half of his 500 projects were never realised.

By means of drawings, models and animations the exhibition „Drawn in Sand – Unrealised Visions by Alvar
Aalto“ shows a selection of projects of this famous architect, spanning a period of over 50 years.
Looking at the sketches side by side, they clearly reveal how Aalto develops buildings and spaces from his
drawings, thus consistently taking up and modifying ideas and motifs from earlier projects. These unrealised
designs by Alvar Aalto are the graphic traces that can be found throughout his complete works without ever
having left his drawing table. They provide a fascinating insight into a great architect’s way of thinking by
means of a pencil. The exhibition will be shown in cooperation with the Alvar Aalto Museum in Helsinki.

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CREDITS:
Text and image: Architekturmuseum der TU München