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AD Classics: Viipuri Library / Alvar Aalto

Despite being one of the seminal works of modern Scandinavian architecture, Alvar Aalto’s Viipuri Library languished in relative obscurity for three-quarters of a century until its media breakthrough in late 2014. Its receipt of the World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize for a recent renovation was covered by news outlets around the world, bringing the 1935 building previously unseen levels of attention and scrutiny.

This renaissance is nothing less than extraordinary. Abandoned for over a decade and allowed to fall into complete disrepair, the building was once so forgotten that many believed it had actually been demolished. [1] For decades, architects studied Aalto’s project only in drawings and prewar black-and-white photographs, not knowing whether the original was still standing, and if it was, how it was being used. Its transformation from modern icon to deserted relic to architectural classic is a tale of political intrigue, warfare, and the perseverance of a dedicated few who saved the building from ruin.

AD Classics: Viipuri Library / Alvar Aalto - Library, Facade, HandrailAD Classics: Viipuri Library / Alvar Aalto - Library, FacadeAD Classics: Viipuri Library / Alvar Aalto - Library, Garden, FacadeAD Classics: Viipuri Library / Alvar Aalto - Library, Facade, DoorAD Classics: Viipuri Library / Alvar Aalto - More Images+ 39

AD Classics: AD Classics: David S. Ingalls Skating Rink / Eero Saarinen

AD Classics: AD Classics: David S. Ingalls Skating Rink / Eero Saarinen - Skatepark, LightingAD Classics: AD Classics: David S. Ingalls Skating Rink / Eero Saarinen - Skatepark, ArchAD Classics: AD Classics: David S. Ingalls Skating Rink / Eero Saarinen - Skatepark, FacadeAD Classics: AD Classics: David S. Ingalls Skating Rink / Eero Saarinen - Skatepark, FacadeAD Classics: AD Classics: David S. Ingalls Skating Rink / Eero Saarinen - More Images+ 5