City on a hill

Abstract

Some aspects on Aalto criticism are debated: Sensitivity to nature, topography, and cultural locality; as well as the critics adherence to Aalto’s own questionable positions on other aspects, such as ornamentation and standardization.Descriptions of Säynätsalo are presented, showing not only difference but contradiction among them; pointing that both ways seem to be accepted by publishers and architects. A legimative criticism based on a tendency to accept as primary sources, information and explanations that are all but empty; showing confusion between the roles of the architect and the critic.