Eero Saarinen, a photo from Massachusetts, Northeast

Photographer's Note

Eero Saarinen

Alvar Aalto is not the only famous Finnish architect who has made designs for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In the center of the campus we find two buildings designed by Eero Saarinen: the Kresge Auditorium and the MIT Chapel.

Eero is the son of another famous Finnish architect: Eliel Saarinen, among others the architect of the famous railway station in Helsinki.
In 1923 the Saarinen family emigrated to the USA. Eero became in 1940 a naturalized citizen of the USA.
His best known designs include the Washington Dulles International Airport, TWA Flight Center at JFK International Airport and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.

The two buildings on the MIT campus are early works that were realized in 1955-56.
Kresge Auditorium (MIT Building W16) and the MIT Chapel
Saarinen designed Kresge Auditorium with his nearby MIT Chapel in tandem. The two buildings are separated by a green space called the "Kresge Oval". Also designed by Saarinen.
The two buildings are recognized among the best examples of mid-century modern architecture in the United States.

The Kresge auditorium is a fascinating and elegant interplay between the thin-shell structure of reinforced concrete of the roof and the glass curtain walls of the three facades. Thin-shelled concrete technology was innovative for the times; the dome is proportionately thinner than an eggshell.

The MIT Chapel is a non-denominational chapel. The chapel exterior consists of a plain brick cylinder, with an aluminium bell tower by sculptor Theodore Roszak. The building is encircled by a shallow moat, that defines it as an 𧗽sland of serenity�. Reflections from the water bounce up into the interior of the chapel through hidden windows.

■ Picture 1: ◄ Kresge auditorium ►

■ Picture 2: ◄ View of the south facade►

■ Picture 3: ◄ MIT Chapel ►

The best way to view the pictures is to use the links above.

ikeharel, holmertz, Royaldevon, ChrisJ, jean113, pierrefonds, pajaran, Fis2, PaulVDV, sacimar, worldcitizen, macjake, cornejo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ikeharel (105793) 2019-09-22 2:52

Finally you had given a good explanation to your user-name, Rob. And I do not wonder, you are a great fan / admirer of architecture and art.
As for this picture, a shape of a building which would attract any photographer for its special design. The glasses reflections upon were a nice bonus to the whole.
Good afternoon,
Ike

holmertz (92724) 2019-09-22 3:16

Hello Rob,
The main photo combines an elegant design with fine reflections and the clear colours of the foreground. It's interesting to read about the technology used here, of which I was totally ignorant. Today the building containing the chapel seems to me more original than the auditorium, which somehow is beginning to look its age. However, I appreciate all these photos and they taught me something about another Finnish architect.
Have a nice Sunday,
Gert

Royaldevon (75240) 2019-09-22 3:25

Hello Rob,

These are very modern buildings, beautifully photographed to show their style and materials, with great clarity.
The auditorium looks as if it is welcoming the outside into its interior. Who wouldn't want to enter.
I love the idea of an island of serenity.
My brain immediately saw a face in the MIT Chapel, well eyes peeping out of a face below ground level!

Thanks for sharing these,
Bev :-)

ChrisJ (159862) 2019-09-22 3:29

Hello Rob,

It reminds me of the Tromso Library in Norway. I must upload a shot of it one of these days. The grey footpath adds good lead in lines and perspective. Good sharpness, colour and framing. Tfs!

jean113 (21941) 2019-09-22 4:27

Hello Rob, these buildings must have seemed ahead of their time in 1955-56.
The technology in creating the Kresge Auditorium must have been innovative.
Thorough and very informative notes.
Three excellent pictures where we are able to appreciate the fine architecture.
Thank you.
Regards Jean.

Silvio1953 (205491) 2019-09-22 4:41

Ciao Rob, great view of fantastic architecture, excellent clarity, fine details, splendid light and wonderful colors very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Tue (82104) 2019-09-22 4:48

Hallo Rob,
Het was daar toch wel een hele Finse wijk. De kromme lijnen van het dak, de rechte lijnen van de ramen en de spiegelingen maken dit een heel aantrekkelijk gebouw. Zeker op zo'n zonnige dag.
Lars

pierrefonds (103384) 2019-09-22 4:56

Hi Rob,

I appreciate the reflections on the windows. The point of view is showing the details of the Kresge Auditorium. The light is bringing out the beauty of the colours. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Gerrit (59968) 2019-09-22 5:57

Dag Rob,
mooi gebouw met sterke lange ronde lijnen en veel glas.
Interessante serie.
Groet, Gerrit

pajaran (102460) 2019-09-22 8:04

Pozdrav.
Lepi pogledi, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lepo mesto i arhitektura. Lep refleks na fasadi.
Lep Eero Saarinen.
Dobar rad sa fotografijama u radionici, lepo poakzano, dobro uhvacen trenutak sa belim oblacima na plavom nebu.
Zelim vam sve najbolje.
Paja.

Greeting.
Nice views, interesting and good text ...
Nice place and architecture. Nice reflex on the facade.
Nice Eero Saarinen.
Good work with photos in the workshop, beautifully presented, well captured moment with white clouds in the blue sky.
I wish you all the best.

Fis2 (155425) 2019-09-22 9:11

Witaj Rob!
Interesting building, a very interesting design.
Good framing, colors and sharpness.
I like reflection,
Very impressive picture.
I likie it and WS too.
Nice sunday afternoon.
Krzysztof

Miguel82 (47106) 2019-09-22 13:08

Hallo Rob, what a beautiful building. Its modern design draws attention. It has a splendid glass and a roof reminding a turtle shell. Fine colors, good image quality and excellent light, instructive photo note, regards.

Nicou (193806) 2019-09-22 21:05

Hello

encore une superbe architecture et un 嶮ifice tout en modernit� quelle forme ce toit comme une coquille d'escargot qui recouvre le tout quelle forme et es vitrages ces reflets quelle image splendide
Bravo et amiti�
Nciou

rychem (72179) 2019-09-22 21:57

You are fascinated by the modern architecture and I am not surprised, you have found beautiful examples of architectural achievements of architects from around the world
regards Ryszard

PaulVDV (54735) 2019-09-23 1:22

Hallo Rob,
De kapel lijkt me van het bunkertype en kan me niet echt bekoren.
Het auditorium daarentegen vind ik echt heel mooi.
Je toont ons het gebouw van twee verschillende zijden. Ik heb de indruk dat wanneer je in het auditorium bent je langs alle zijden een glazen wand hebt. Het moet een prachtig luchtig interieur hebben. Misschien heeft dit als gevolg dat de verduistering bij projectie een probleem wordt tenzij die weerspiegelende wanden veel licht tegen houden.
Mooie reeks over het MIT.
Vele groeten, Paul

emka (152060) 2019-09-23 3:21

Hello Rob,

three very interesting pictures from MIT. I haven't heard about this architect, although a have seen the railway7 station in Helsinki. But the style here is totally different. Interesting chapel. In Helsinki is something similar - the wooden building in the shape of an egg without any decorations. maybe it was an inspiration.
Kind regards MAlgo

gervaso (28177) 2019-09-23 5:43

Hello, Rob!

Different and beautiful architecture, with very nice reflections on its fa蓷de that make the composition even more attractive! I like the well saturated colors and the perfect light and sharpness with which you captured the scene! Wonderful composition! Well done!

sacimar (38171) 2019-09-23 8:38

Hello Rob,

interesting building, I like its architectural style, you chose a good point of view to show it, the roof catch all my attention, well seen,

Best regards,

Sergio

PiotrF (52330) 2019-09-23 15:32

Hello ROb
Interestinng view of modern buildings.
A very nice picture with nice composition, colours and good sharpness.
Fine presentation.
Regards
Piotr

worldcitizen (14264) 2019-09-24 9:59

Hello Rob,
Eero Saarinen is an architect that I have heard of before. :-) These two buildings at MIT are really attractive. I'm surprised by how much interesting architecture they have on that campus. The chapel is very striking with its round shape and all of the bricks. The curves of the auditorium are very attractive, too.

macjake (96151) 2019-09-24 20:10

Hi Rob
I have never seen this building before, it should have been on TE a few times as it's very photogenic. as you mentioned in the note, it does have a 'shell' like appearance, as if its some sort of animal and the top section is its protective armour against predators. Glad you found it and posted it, well worthy. cheers
Craig

mkamionka (61018) 2019-09-26 1:24

Hi Rob,
we are learning so much about the architecture history from your uploads. The photos illustrate it beautifully.
Quite exotic names, all of them.
I suppose you must have a sort of emotional attachment to them since you have chosen one of those names as your TE nickname.
In your note I spot a possible Polish name too, Roszak sounds very much like a Polish name.

Great reportage,
M

jmdias (102710) 2019-10-14 13:05

rob

when I was a teen and I wanted to be an architect I did many buildings like this ( drawings), I guess this guy copied me. haha. nice sample of architecture.

take care

jorge

cornejo (61504) 2019-10-21 11:23

Hi Rob, very good photograph of the interesting building, very well captured in this interesting image with good sharpness, light, color and quality. Very good and interesting work perfectly done, my congratulations my friend. Thank you for sharing this beautiful work.

Good night and happy week.
Warm regards from southern Spain.
Angel.