EERO
SARINEN (1910-1961), who was born in Hvittrask, coincidentally shared the
same birthday as his father, Eliel Saarinen. Saarinen emigrated
to the United States of America in 1923 when he was thirteen
years old. He grew up within the community of the Cranbrook
Academy of Art in Michigan, where his father taught. Saarinen
studied under his father and took courses in sculpture and
furniture design. Saarinen had a close relationship with fellow
students Charles and Ray Eames, and became good friends with
Florence Knoll. Beginning in September 1929, he studied
sculpture at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere in Paris,
France.
He then went on to study
architecture at Yale University, completing his studies in 1934.
Saarinen was recruited by his friend, who was also an architect, to join the military service in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Saarinen was assigned to draw illustrations for bomb disassembly manuals and to provide designs for the Situation Room in the White House. Saarinen worked full time for the OSS until 1944. After his father's death in 1950, Saarinen founded his own architect's office, "Eero Saarinen and Associates".
Saarinen was recruited by his friend, who was also an architect, to join the military service in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Saarinen was assigned to draw illustrations for bomb disassembly manuals and to provide designs for the Situation Room in the White House. Saarinen worked full time for the OSS until 1944. After his father's death in 1950, Saarinen founded his own architect's office, "Eero Saarinen and Associates".
In 1954, after having divorced his first wife, Saarinen married Aline Bernstein, an art critic at The New York Times. They had a son, Eames, named after his collaborator Charles Eames.
