Alvar Aalto

Just as it takes time for a speck of fish spawn to develop into a fully grown fish, so, too, we need time for everything that develops and crystallizes in the world of ideas. Architecture demands more of this time than other creative work.

The very essence of architecture consists of a variety and development reminiscent of natural organic life. This is the only true style in architecture.

Once I tried to make a standardization of staircases. Probably that is one of the oldest of the standardizations. Of course, we design new staircase steps every day in connection with all our houses, but a standardized step depends on the height of the buildings and on all kinds of things.

Form must have a content, and that content must be linked with nature.

Our time is so specialised that we have people who know more and more or less and less.

We should work for simple, good, undecorated things, but things which are in harmony with the human being and organically suited to the little man in the street.

We should concentrate our work not only to a separated housing problem but housing involved in our daily work and all the other functions of the city.

I tell you, it is easier to build a grand opera or a city center than to build a personal house.