Elissa Aalto
Finnish architect (1922–1994) married to Alvar Aalto

Elissa Aalto

The basics
Quick facts
Intro
Finnish architect (1922–1994) married to Alvar Aalto
A.K.A.
Elsa Kaisa Mäkiniemi, Elissa Mäkiniemi, Elsa Kaisa Aalto, Elsa Aalto, Elsa Mäkiniemi
Gender:
Female
Places:
Work field:
Birth:
22 November 1922(Kemi, Lapland, Regional State Administrative Agency for Lapland, Finland)
Death:
12 April 1994(Helsinki, Helsinki sub-region, Uusimaa, Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency)
Star sign:
Family:
Father:
August Mäkiniemi
Spouse(s):
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto
The details
Biography

Elissa Aalto (22 November 1922, Kemi – 12 April 1994, Helsinki; born Elsa Kaisa Mäkiniemi) was a Finnish architect and author.

She graduated in architecture from the University of Helsinki in 1949, and the same year she joined the office of Alvar Aalto. They married in 1952. She was involved in all competition projects the office undertook, and after Alvar Aalto's death in 1976 she managed the office and completed the unfinished projects, such as the Essen Opera House. She was also involved in alteration projects and the restoration of Aalto buildings, including the Rovaniemi Town Hall. She donated Aalto's drawings to the Alvar Aalto Foundation to make the material available for researchers. Elissa Aalto died in 1994, and was buried in Hietaniemi cemetery, in Helsinki, with her husband.