June 1976 - the year of the great summer heatwave in the UK, and in a small university town in England, a young student had just completed his final exams in architecture. His studies had introduced him to a Finnish architect called Alvar Aalto - a shining light in modern architecture and he was desperate to meet this man and experience some of his outstanding buildings.

Aalto’s best work was in Finland, high up near the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia, sandwiched between the powerful neighbours of Sweden and Russia. The shy and reserved Finns speak a unique language which has helped them keep their cultural identity intact, in a country which has been described as the last great wilderness in Europe.

Searching for Alvar tells the true story of the author’s journey into this remote, mysterious corner of the world, and his quest to understand these remarkable people and the influences that inspired Alvar Aalto to create such stunning, distinctive architecture.