Armas Lindgren

Armas Eliel Lindgren (1874-1929) was Finnish architect, professor and painter.

Biography

Armas Lindgren was born in Hämeenlinna on November 28, 1874. He studied architecture in the Polytechnic Institute of Helsinki, from where he graduated in 1897. While being a student he collaborated with Josef Stenbäck and Gustaf Nyström, two well-known Finnish architects. He spent the two following years studying history of art and culture in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. In 1896 he founded with Herman Gesellius and Eliel Saarinen, an architectural firm named Gesellius, Lindgren, and Saarinen. The firm was responsible for the realization of several important projects such as the National Museum of Finland in Helsinki.^[1]

In 1900 he started working in the Polytechnic Institute as a history of art professor.^[1] From 1902 to 1912 he held the position of the artistic director of the higher department of the Central School of Arts and Crafts of Helsinki^[2] In 1905 Lindgren departed from Gesellius, Lindgren, and Saarinen and set up his own office. In the 1910s he collaborated closely with Wivi Lönn. They designed together the Uusi ylioppilastalo in 1910 and the Estonia Theatre in 1912.^[3]

In 1919 he replaced Gustaf Nyström to the position of the professor of architecture in the university of Helsinki. As a professor he taught and influenced the notable Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.^[4]

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