Eero Saarinen was a pioneer of modernist design who brought movement, emotion, and elegance to mid-century architecture. With a style that defied the rigid orthodoxy of his time, Saarinen’s work embraced curves, lightness, and futuristic thinking.
Artistic Philosophy
Saarinen believed that design should respond emotionally, not just logically. He sought the right form for each function—often sculpting shapes that felt inevitable yet entirely new. For Saarinen, architecture was not static—it was alive, expressive, and human.
Signature Work
Among his most celebrated works are the TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport, which feels like a bird about to take off, and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis—a pure, soaring symbol of westward expansion. In furniture, his Tulip Chair remains a design classic, dissolving clutter into elegant form.
Process
ProcessSaarinen approached each project with conceptual clarity and bold intuition. He modelled forms by hand, embracing both cutting-edge technology and sculptural experimentation. He often collaborated closely with engineers, seeking harmony between vision and feasibility.
Why His Work Matters
Eero Saarinen redefined what modernism could look and feel like. He gave us structures that are not only efficient but poetic. In a world of right angles, he offered flight paths—reminding us that design is not just what we build, but how we imagine.