Birthday Tribute to Eero Saarinen

"Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context - a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan."

Eero Saarinen

Today is the 102nd anniversary of the birth of Eero Saarinen. The Finnish American architect and industrial designer was born on August 20, 1910 and died on September 1, 1961. Lauded by many as a master of mid century design, he was criticized by others who felt he had no identifiable style. This lack of a signature look was due to Saarinen's ability to adapt his talents to the needs of each particular project. He did not impose a standard vision on his different creations.

Anyone who has flown into the Washington Dulles Airport in Chantilly, Virginia (26 miles from downtown Washington, D.C.) has experienced the work of Eero Saarinen, who designed the main terminal. The graceful slope of the roof clearly and cleanly conjures the feeling of flight.

Main terminal of Washington Dulles International Airport at dusk in Virginia, USA.

August 30, 2011.

(Joe Ravi is the creator and copyright holder of this image [CC-BY-SA 3.0],
which I found on Wikipedia.)

Saarinen also designed the TWA Terminal of the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. This terminal opened in 1962, but Saarinen did not live to see it. He died in 1961 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Like the Dulles Airport, the TWA Terminal is a visual image of flight rendered in concrete. It appears to be a bird, perhaps a hawk or an eagle, crouched as if ready to fly. 



JKF International Airport.

April 5, 2006.

Author: pheezy

Source: Flickr via Wikipedia.

The TWA Terminal closed in October 2001, and it is no longer open to the public. (Scenes from the Leonard DiCaprio movie, "Catch Me if You Can," were filmed there.) The terminal has undergone renovations and travel blogger Michelle Young was able to take some hauntingly beautiful photos of this architecturally significant building. Here is the link to her amazing images: @Untapped Cities by Michelle Young. Michelle writes in her blog, "Upon visiting in the present, you feel transported not only to another time, but also to an ethereal place. This was the cathedral to aviation, if there ever was one, and you feel through the design the pride and optimism the aviation industry had then."

Another Eero Saarinen creation: The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, St. Louis.

Daniel Schen, creator of this image (Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO. May 18, 2009), which I found on Wikipedia, holds the copyright image.
Again, this structure is graceful, sweeping, simple, elegant.



"In his purist approach to architecture and interior design, Eero Saarinen sought the essential idea and reduced it to the most effective structural solution within the overall unity of design. 'The underside of typical chairs and tables makes a confusing, unrestful world,' explained Saarinen. 'I wanted to clear up the slum of legs.' In his pedestal collection, which [is produced by Knoll and] includes a dining, coffee and side table, Saarinen realized his ideal of formal unity. The tables are available with laminate, marble, or veneer tops with a base in black, white or platinum finish." (From the Knoll website.)

I now share some images of Saarinen's iconic pedestal table,
which is perfect in so many types of decor.

"An Alexander Calder mobile hangs above a Saarinen table by Knoll and Bielecky Brothers dining chairs in the kitchen."
Historical Main Line, Philadelphia home filled with museum-caliber works by artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, Donald Judd, Andy Warhol and Cy Twombly.
Interior design by Thomas Jayne.
Text by Julie L. Belcove.
Photography by Roger Davies.
Architectural Digest (August 2012).

Home of interior designer Patrick Printy and Dan Holland.

New construction based on original Cape Dutch design

using reclaimed flooring, beams and fixtures.

Interior design by Patrick Printy.

Styled by Stephen Pappas.

Text by Kathleen Hackett.

Photography by Laura Resen.

Elle Decor (May 2011).

 "A mobile chandelier by Interieurs hangs above a Saarinen dining table by Knoll."

Ossining, New York home of Doug Turshen and Rochelle Udell.

Designer: James Shearron.

Architect: Dick Bories.

Styled by James Shearron.

Text by Samuel Cochran.

Photography by William Waldron.

Elle Decor (November 2010).

 "Eero Saarinen's Tulip armchairs and dining table nestle cozily in the bay window.

Chair cushions in Edelman Leather's Daffodil add a sunny pop of color."

Home of John Edelman, President and CEO of Design Within Reach, and interior designer, Bonnie Edelman.

Interior design by Bonnie Edelman.

Architect: Heidi Stormer (mother of Bonnie Edelman).

Interview by Dylan Landis.

House Beautiful (April 2012).

"Eero Saarinen gets my total respect for designing a table where 10 people can sit without the annoyance of table legs," says homeowner and interior designer Bonnie Edelman.

"In her family's Ridgefield, Connecticut dining room, Saarinen's Oval Dining Table and Executive Armchairs engage with a bristling Satellite chandelier,

all from Design Within Reach."  

Home of John Edelman, President and CEO of Design Within Reach, and interior designer, Bonnie Edelman.

Interior design by Bonnie Edelman.

Architect: Heidi Stormer (mother of Bonnie Edelman).

Interview by Dylan Landis.

House Beautiful (April 2012).

"Oly Studio chairs are pulled up to a vintage Saarinen table. Painting by Patricia Hansen."

Interior design by Marie Nygren and Smith Hanes.

Interview by Mimi Read.

Photography by Amy Neunsinger.

House Beautiful (December - January 2011).

I love the striped fabric with the marble-topped Saarinen side table.

Birmingham, Alabama home of interior designer Bill Ingram.

Interior design by Bill Ingram.

Photography by Simon Watson.

"The most interesting rooms mix cultures and periods," says homeowner Royce Pinkwater.

1950s Eero Saarinen  table with Verner Panton's C1 chairs.

Park Avenue apartment of Royce Pinkwater, broker at Sotheby's International Realty.

Interior design by Royce Pinkwater, Eric Cohler, Sidney Frazier and Kyle Clarkson.

Photography by Thomas Loof.

House Beautiful (October 2011).

Another view of Royce Pinkwater's 1950s Saarinen table.
Interior design by Royce Pinkwater, Eric Cohler, Sidney Frazier and Kyle Clarkson.
Photography by Thomas Loof.
House Beautiful (October 2011).

Black Eero Saarinen chair by Knoll.

New York City pied-a-terre of Orlando Diaz-Azcuy and John G. Capo.

Renovation and interior design by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy.

Photography by Melanie Acevedo.

Veranda (October 2011).