Eero Saarinen

Architectural Style

• Eero Saarinen's designs were initially in the International Style, characterized by horizontal or vertical emphasis, clean lines, and geometric clarity.
• Later, his architecture became associated with a neo-futurist sensibility, featuring futuristic elements, curves, and innovative use of materials.

Achievements

• Received two first prizes with Charles Eames in the Museum of Modern Art's furniture design competition in 1940.
• Won the first prize in the Jefferson National Monument competition in 1948.
• Elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1952 and a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1954.
• Received the Grand Architectural Award from the Boston Arts Festival in 1953.
• Won the First Honor award of the American Institute of Architects twice, in 1955 and 1956.
• Posthumously awarded a gold medal by the American Institute of Architects in 1962.
• Took first prize in the US Embassy competition in London in 1965.

Notable Works

• The Miller House, Columbus, Indiana (1953), known for its clean lines, open spaces, and integration with nature.
• Gateway Arch in St. Louis.
• Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, New York (1940), a father-son collaboration with local architects.
• Washington Dulles International Airport, Virginia (1962), a prime example of modernist architecture in the United States.
• North Christian Church, Columbus, Indiana (1964).

Design Concept

• Introduced sculptural forms that were rich in architectural character and visual drama.
• Designs often featured curvilinear and expressive shapes, easily recognizable and distinctive.

Quotes

• "Always design a thing by considering it in its larger concept, a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment."
• "The purpose of architecture is to shelter and enhance man's life on earth and to fulfill his beliefs in the nobility of his existence."
• "Function influences but does not dictate forms."