Eero Saarinen - Biography, Architecture & Furniture
Eero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen (1910-1961) was an influential American architect and designer belonging to the second generation of modernist architects. He was born in Kirkkonummi, Finland, but moved with his family to the United States in 1923, at the age of 13. His father, Eliel Saarinen, was one of the foremost Finnish architects who, after moving to the United States, continued his architectural career and became a lecturer at the University of Michigan. In 1925, Eliel Saarinen was commissioned to design a complex of school buildings which would later become Cranbrook Academy of Art. In 1932, he became the Academy president. Eero Saarinen's mother, Loja Saarinen (née Louise Gesellius), was a famous weaver and sculptor. She would also find employment at Cranbrook Academy and became the head of the Department of Weaving and Textile Design.
Unsurprisingly, Eero Saarinen began his education at Cranbrook Academy. In 1929, however, he enrolled in the Academie de la Grand Chaumière in Paris, France and was trained as a sculptor. In 1931, he returned to the United States and studied architecture at Yale University. A fellowship he received from Yale University allowed him to travel around Europe in the years 1934-1935. He returned to the United States in 1936 after spending an extra year working in Helsinki, Finland with a Finnish architect Jarl Eklun. The same year he was employed by the Flint Institute of Research and Planning in Flint, Michigan where he was tasked with conducting research on urban planning. In 1938, he joined his father's architectural firm.
Eero Saarinen 1910-1961
![]() |
''The purpose of architecture is to shelter and enhance man's life on earth and to fulfill his belief in the nobility of his existence.'' - Eero Saarinen
While growing up, Eero Saarinen and his sister Pipsan would lie under their father's large drafting table in the middle of the living room and create imaginary worlds with pen and paper. They grew up surrounded by blueprints, scales, drafting tables and creative people. Thus, we might say that Eero Saarinen was destined to be an architect.
Eero Saarinen Architecture
Eero Saarinen's architecture was initially under the overwhelming influence of his father. After coming to the United States his father became a proponent of the austere functionalism of the International Style (in Finland he designed in a romantic style and his first buildings in the United States are also realized in this style). He followed the mantra of the first generation of modernist architects: form follows function. The joint projects of the Saarinens were, therefore, prime examples of the International Style and helped popularize it in the United States. The Saarinens were pioneers in the design and use of curtain walls, nonbearing walls of glass in steel frames, on a large scale.
Only in the last years of his father's life, did Eero Saarinen begin developing his own language of architecture. He worked mainly with the materials that were typical for the International Style his father adhered to such as steel, concrete, brick, and glass. In his designs, however, Eero Saarinen allowed for more artistic expression and skillfully used common materials to create novel visual effects. Their form did not necessarily follow function. In particular, the roofs of his buildings took on sculptural shapes which was made possible by the extensive use of reinforced concrete. Saarinen's later projects are often described as neo-futurist and he is sometimes regarded as one of the precursors of this style.
![]() |
Eero Saarinen's Buildings
The most famous Eero Saarinen works designed with his father include:
- Crow Island School in Winnetka (1930), Illinois
- First Christian Church (1942) in Columbus, Indiana
- Irwin Union Bank and Trust (1954) in Columbus, Indiana
The above-mentioned projects were designed in the International Style. They have flat roofs and large windows which allow for a lot of sunshine to enter the buildings' interiors.
Among Eero Saarinen's later projects that he designed alone are:
- Kresge Auditorium and chapel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1955) in Cambridge Massachusetts
- Trans World Airlines (TWA) terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport (1956-62) in New York City
- Ingalls Hockey Rink at Yale University (1958) in New Haven, Connecticut
- Dulles International Airport (1962)
- The Gateway Arch (1965) in St. Louis, Missouri
Later Eero Saarinen buildings took sculptural forms. They were particularly pronounced in the design of the terminal at the John F. Kennedy International Airport and the Ingalls Hockey Rink where reinforced concrete was used to create distinct, curvilinear rooftops.
![]() |
Eero Saarinen's Furniture
Eero Saarinen was not only a prominent architect but also an avid furniture designer. His furniture designs - mainly of chairs - similarly to his buildings, took sculptural rounded forms. He used fiberglass, aluminum, and plastic to achieve these effects. Eero Saarinen's famous works include:
- The Womb Chair and Settee (1948)
- The Organic Chair (1950)
- The Tulip Chair (1957)
![]() |
Eero Saarinen's Legacy
Eero Saarinen was widely celebrated in the 1950s and 1960s. After his untimely death in 1961, however, both as a furniture designer and as an architect, Saarinen was largely forgotten. Nevertheless, many of his technological advancements, such as the improvements to the curtain walls, were used by the next generations of architects.
Only in the 1990s did Saarinen's works once again become widely known to the public. Saarinen with his focus on technological innovation and his optimistic vision of the future was in accord with the spirit of the time. Moreover, his buildings shared many similarities with the deconstructivist architecture that, at the time, triumphed and Saarinen is sometimes viewed as the predecessor of deconstructivists. In the 1990s, Saarinen's furniture design enjoyed a revival.
Lesson Summary
Eero Saarinen (1910-1961) was a Finnish-born American architect and furniture designer. He belonged to the second generation of modernist architects who departed from the mantra of the first generation 'form follows function'. In his designs, Eero Saarinen used common materials typical for modernist architecture such as steel, glass, and concrete to create buildings with complex, rounded, and striking sculptural forms. With regard to furniture designs, such as the Womb Chair or Tulip Chair, he used fiberglass and plastic to create curvilinear shapes.
Initially, Eero Saarinen was working with his father, a famous architect Eliel Saarinen who was a proponent of the International Style. His early works, such as the First Christian Church in Columbus, Indiana, were designed jointly with his father and, hence, are constructed in an austere, functionalist style. His later architectural projects, such as the Gateway Arch in St. Louis or Ingalls Hockey Rink - as well as his furniture are often described as neo-futurist.
Professional Career
Eero Saarinen worked with his father for many years (1938 to 1950) and owes a lot of his initial knowledge about architecture to his upbringing, but he didn't stay in his father's shadow for long. Saarinen, upon his father's death, opened his own architecture firm in 1950 in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and began to make a name for himself in both the architecture and furniture realms as a Neo-Futuristic designer, meaning that his works focused on creating an idealistic vision of the future.
Saarinen and his colleagues were considered to be part of the second generation of the modern movement within architecture that gave new meaning to the modernist mantra that ''form follows function.'' The focus of their design practice was on utilizing new construction techniques, as well as creating architecture that contained variety and visual effect. By the time of his death, Saarinen did not have a distinct architectural style, despite helping to bring modern architecture to mainstream America. Saarinen's acclaim as an architect made him a prominent media figure in many publications, and he was proclaimed one of the greatest architects of his time.
Material Use
![]() |
Saarinen and his team of architects designed mostly with steel, glass and concrete. He enjoyed the concept of exposing the structure of the building with steel. While designing for the John Deere headquarters in Moline, Illinois, the use of steel is obvious and intended to actually blend with nature by imitating trees.
The use of concrete is most notable in the TWA Flight Center at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, with large swooping concrete roofs, utilizing concrete in a new and advanced way.
Glass was used in all of his works in combination with steel and concrete.
Most Notable Architecture Designs
Saarinen's most recognized designs include:
- Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (including the Gateway Arch) in St. Louis, Missouri (1935)
- The Miller House in Columbus, Indiana (1953)
- David S. Ingalls Skating Rink for Yale University (1958)
- Bell Labs Holmdel Complex in Holmdel Township, New Jersey (1962)
- The TWA Flight Center at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (1962)
![]() |
Most Notable Furniture Designs
Saarinen also created numerous furniture designs for the Knoll company founded in New York City in 1938. Below are some of his most famous designs, and some of them are even still in production to this day!
- Womb Chair and Ottoman (1948)
- Womb Settee (1950)
- Tulip Chair (1956)
Lesson Summary
Eero Saarinen, despite having a short solo career separate from his father, managed to make quite an impact on the architecture world. Saarinen was a second-generation modernist (a group that follows the mantra in architecture that ''form follows function'') whose works utilized new construction techniques and created variety and visual effect. His style is classified as Neo-Futuristic, meaning it takes an idealistic view of the future in design.
Saarinen, like many modernists, worked extensively with steel, concrete and glass and designed furniture as well as structures. Saarinen is best known for designing the Gateway Arch in St. Louis that is an iconic feature of the city, as well the design of the TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport. His works are still discussed in the academic field and his timeless furniture designs are still available today in Knoll stores around the world. Saarinen is considered one of the most influential American architects of his time.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Eero Saarinen 1910-1961
![]() |
''The purpose of architecture is to shelter and enhance man's life on earth and to fulfill his belief in the nobility of his existence.'' - Eero Saarinen
While growing up, Eero Saarinen and his sister Pipsan would lie under their father's large drafting table in the middle of the living room and create imaginary worlds with pen and paper. They grew up surrounded by blueprints, scales, drafting tables and creative people. Thus, we might say that Eero Saarinen was destined to be an architect.
Professional Career
Eero Saarinen worked with his father for many years (1938 to 1950) and owes a lot of his initial knowledge about architecture to his upbringing, but he didn't stay in his father's shadow for long. Saarinen, upon his father's death, opened his own architecture firm in 1950 in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and began to make a name for himself in both the architecture and furniture realms as a Neo-Futuristic designer, meaning that his works focused on creating an idealistic vision of the future.
Saarinen and his colleagues were considered to be part of the second generation of the modern movement within architecture that gave new meaning to the modernist mantra that ''form follows function.'' The focus of their design practice was on utilizing new construction techniques, as well as creating architecture that contained variety and visual effect. By the time of his death, Saarinen did not have a distinct architectural style, despite helping to bring modern architecture to mainstream America. Saarinen's acclaim as an architect made him a prominent media figure in many publications, and he was proclaimed one of the greatest architects of his time.
Material Use
![]() |
Saarinen and his team of architects designed mostly with steel, glass and concrete. He enjoyed the concept of exposing the structure of the building with steel. While designing for the John Deere headquarters in Moline, Illinois, the use of steel is obvious and intended to actually blend with nature by imitating trees.
The use of concrete is most notable in the TWA Flight Center at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, with large swooping concrete roofs, utilizing concrete in a new and advanced way.
Glass was used in all of his works in combination with steel and concrete.
Most Notable Architecture Designs
Saarinen's most recognized designs include:
- Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (including the Gateway Arch) in St. Louis, Missouri (1935)
- The Miller House in Columbus, Indiana (1953)
- David S. Ingalls Skating Rink for Yale University (1958)
- Bell Labs Holmdel Complex in Holmdel Township, New Jersey (1962)
- The TWA Flight Center at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (1962)
![]() |
Most Notable Furniture Designs
Saarinen also created numerous furniture designs for the Knoll company founded in New York City in 1938. Below are some of his most famous designs, and some of them are even still in production to this day!
- Womb Chair and Ottoman (1948)
- Womb Settee (1950)
- Tulip Chair (1956)
Lesson Summary
Eero Saarinen, despite having a short solo career separate from his father, managed to make quite an impact on the architecture world. Saarinen was a second-generation modernist (a group that follows the mantra in architecture that ''form follows function'') whose works utilized new construction techniques and created variety and visual effect. His style is classified as Neo-Futuristic, meaning it takes an idealistic view of the future in design.
Saarinen, like many modernists, worked extensively with steel, concrete and glass and designed furniture as well as structures. Saarinen is best known for designing the Gateway Arch in St. Louis that is an iconic feature of the city, as well the design of the TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport. His works are still discussed in the academic field and his timeless furniture designs are still available today in Knoll stores around the world. Saarinen is considered one of the most influential American architects of his time.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
What is Eero Saarinen known for?
Eero Saarinen was a Finnish-born American architect. He is possibly best-known for his design of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Saarinen was also a furniture designer and designed such pieces as the Tulip Chair.
What is Eero Saarinen style of architecture?
We may distinguish two periods in Eero Saarinen's career as an architect. In the first period, his designs were in the International Style. During the second period, his architecture may be described as neo-futurist.
What materials did Eero Saarinen use?
Eero Saarinen used materials typical for modernist architecture such as glass, steel, and concrete. He is known for his use and development of curtain walls.
Register to view this lesson
Unlock Your Education
See for yourself why 30 million people use Study.com
Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Log In
BackResources created by teachers for teachers
I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It’s like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. I feel like it’s a lifeline.