Aalto University’s new meeting place was named Marsio as a tribute to Aino Marsio-Aalto, who was a creative pioneer, an architect, a designer, an entrepreneur and an alumnus of Aalto University.   

Marsio-Aalto had a significant impact on the history of Finnish architecture and design. Marsio-Aalto, together with her spouse and partner, architect Alvar Aalto, designed buildings, interior decorations and objects that continue to inspire people and to bring beauty into everyday life.  

Not just an architect, but also an artist, a carpenter and a mason  

Aino Marsio-Aalto (1894–1949) studied at Helsinki University of Technology, i.e. the current Aalto University in the 1910s, a time when Finland was one of the few countries where women had the right to study to become architects. She graduated as an architect in 1920.   

Marsio was interested in learning new things: she developed her skills with a broad scope from the very beginning of her career. She had a skill in drawing, and she worked as a carpenter and a mason. Later she became interested in glass. Her broad material knowledge helped in developing new types of technology and products as well as the curved shapes that are characteristic of Aalto design.  

When Aino Marsio was 30 years old, she started working at Alvar Aalto’s architectural firm in Jyväskylä in 1924. Alvar was four years younger than her. Aino was a modern and independent woman who had travelled in Europe to seek influences for her work. Aino and Alvar started working together, found a common professional calling, and fell in love.  

Cooperation was equal and symbiotic 

The couple started their honeymoon to Italy by boarding a seaplane in Katajanokka in Helsinki. This dazzling couple, that was familiar with the trends of the time, was able to work together in an equal and symbiotic manner from the very beginning. As people, they were opposites: according to Aino, their works complemented each other, which made working together fruitful and diverse. When looking at their collaborative works it is indeed difficult to say who did what. Their shared career began to flourish.  

Functionality also means beauty and harmony  

Marsio-Aalto was diversely interested in design. Aino’s interest in fashion was made evident during her international trips when she was looking for boots and fabrics to take home.   
  
At the same time, the career of Marsio-Aalto was characterised by societal awareness. As an architect she designed health centres and maternity and child health clinics. Marsio-Aalto also studied furniture design and the impact of home decoration on human well-being.  

Functionality meant not only practicality but also beauty and harmony for Marsio-Aalto. Instead of luxury, her designs aimed for beautiful everyday life. One of her most loved designs is the Aino Aalto glassware collection (1932), inspired by the ripples formed by rock thrown into water.   

In her designs Marsio-Aalto emphasised simplicity, humanity and natural materials that bring warmth and humanity to design and connect people with the world around them.   

The couple’s architect firm won the Otaniemi design competition  

Aino Marsio-Aalto played a key role in establishing Artek in 1935. Artek’s name combines art and technology and the company specialised in designing and selling furniture, lighting and interior decoration products.   
  
Artek quickly became known for modern design combining aesthetics with functionality. Marsio-Aalto influenced the formation of Artek’s design language. She worked as both a Designer and a Managing Director at Artek.    

Otaniemi and Helsinki University of Technology played an important role in the lives of Aino and Alvar: their education provided a solid foundation for the careers of the pair of entrepreneurs. The couple’s architecture firm won the design competition for the Otaniemi area in 1949. However, Aino passed away before their victory was announced.   
  
Aalto University, named after Alvar Aalto, also carries with it Aino Marsio-Aalto’s heritage in the field of Finnish architecture and design.  

The design philosophy of the open-minded globetrotter Aino Marsio-Aalto continues to inspire new talent in the creative field. The Marsio building in Otaniemi brings together experts from different fields and the latest technology. Inspired by Aino, Marsio is a meeting place where you can see tomorrow already today.  

Source: Aalto-Alanen, H. (2021). Rakastan sinussa ihmistä. Aino ja Alvar Aallon tarina.