1873 Eliel Saarinen was born at Rantasalmi, Finland.
His father was Juho Saarinen.
 Pipsan, Loja, Eero & Juho Saarinen at Hvitträsk
Courtesy Cranbrook Archives
1893-97 Eliel studied painting and architecture at Helsinki University.
Here he met Herman Gesellius and Armas Lindgren.
 Lindgren, Saarinen, Östmann and Gesellius
Courtesy Cranbrook Archives
In the following years Saarinen, Gesellius and Lindgren worked together.
Some important works from this era are:
1900 Finnish pavilion for the 1900 World's Fair in Paris and the Finnish National Museum in Helsinki (in scandinavian national romantic style)
1902 Hvitträsk, Saarinen's house near Helsinki
1904 Saarinen married Loja Gesellius
1905 daughter Pipsan was born
1906 Helsinki Railway Station
Saarinen also designed furniture and rugs for some of these objects:
1908 Hannes Chair (named after his brother Hannes Saarinen)
1910 White Chair (designed for the winter garden at Hvitträsk)
1910 son Eero was born
1922 Saarinen won the second price for the Chicago Tribune Tower
1925 Saarinen was asked by George G. Booth to develop the Cranbrook Educational Center at Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. This project was intended to be similar to the Bauhaus idea in Germany.
1926 Saarinen began teaching at the Cranbrook Academy of Art
1928 and following years: buildings at Bloomfield Hills (Cranbrook)
1929 Side chair (Saarinen House, dining room), Blue chair (Saarinen House, Loja's room)
 Eliel Saarinen in front of Saarinen House (Cranbrook)
Courtesy Cranbrook Archives
1932 Saarinen became president of the Cranbrook Academy
 Eliel and Loja Saarinen at "Crandemonium" 1936 (Cranbrook)
Courtesy Cranbrook Archives
Some of Saarinen's students at Cranbrook were:
Charles and Ray Eames, Florence Schust (later Knoll), Harry Bertoia.
 Eliel Saarinen and Frank Lloyd Wright at Kingswood, April 1935
Courtesy Cranbrook Archives
1934 Samowar (Saarinen House, dining room) - today reproduced by Alessi.
Mid-30ies: independent architecture practice with his son Eero Saarinen
40ies: Churches in Columbus, Minneapolis, Chicago
1950 Saarinen died. He is buried at Hvitträsk.
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Buy now:
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Saarinen House and Garden:
A Total Work of Art
This book contains information about the Saarinen House at Cranbrook. 176 pages, about 100 color photographs.
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