Dictionary of Nordic design: Artek
DICTIONARY OF Nordic design is a column for introducing and highlighting important brands and designers, who have shaped Finnish and Scandinavian design. The first brand to be showcased is Finnish furniture manufacturer, Artek.
Artek was founded in 1935 by four young idealists – Alvar and Aino Aalto, Nils-Gustav Hahl, and Maire Gullichsen. They published a design manifesto inspired by functionalism, stating that Artek’s aim was “to sell furniture and to promote a modern culture of habitation by exhibitions and other means”.
Since day one, Artek has stood its ground at the intersection of design, architecture, and art, making Finnish design and Alvar Aalto's furniture known all over the world.
Artek's iconic furniture, such as Aalto chairs and tables have a special place in Finnish homes and hearts. In the photo, table 80A is accompanied by tea trolley 901 – designed by Alvar Aalto in 1936 – and Ilmari Tapiovaara's Domus chair from 1946.
Artek's Armchair 400, also known as Tank, is an undeniable milestone in furniture design of the 1900s. Alvar Aalto designed the Tank chair in 1936 for the Milan Triennale, where it was awarded. The eye-catching zebra fabric is one of the original upholsteries.
The Aalto chair 69 is an uncompromisingly functional classic from 1935. The chair is a perfect companion for a dining table, but its durable structure and timeless design have also made it one of the most popular pieces of public furniture in Finland. The A805 floor lamp, or Angel Wing, is also designed by Alvar Aalto.
Aino Aalto created the AMA 500 pendant originally for Villa Mairea, a building she designed in collaboration with her husband Alvar Aalto. Villa Mairea is regarded as one of the greatest home designs of 20th-century architecture.
Today, Artek's furniture and luminaires, such as the Aalto stools, chairs, and tables, form the cornerstone of Finnish design. The majority of Artek's furniture is still manufactured in Turku, Finland, where Artek has been manufacturing its products since the 1920s.
Artek’s original values – long-term durability, high quality, and clean, functional forms – are still at the company’s very core.
The most essential material used in the designs is Finnish wood, particularly birch and pine, which are processed with innovative woodworking techniques developed by Alvar Aalto.
In addition to furniture and lighting, Artek's selection includes textiles and charming decorative items packed with personality. The Riihitie pot is a design by Aino Aalto. Alvar Aalto's chair 611 is also part of Artek's range.
Artek's timelessly elegant A333 pendant is also known by its jovial nickname, Turnip.
Visit Franckly for pre-loved Artek treasures. The Aalto stool 60 and Aalto screen 100 are both designs by Alvar Aalto.
Alvar and Aino Aalto gave contemporary furniture a signature look – a warm and gentle one, deeply inspired by Finnish nature. The use of natural materials and a humane approach, together with the constant search for new technical solutions, have made Artek a company whose values are still very much modern today.
Artek’s original values – long-term durability, high quality, and clean, functional forms – are still in the company’s core, and it hasn't lost its founders' radical and innovative attitude either.
Artek
Artek was founded in 1935 by Aino and Alvar Aalto, Maire Gullichsen, and Nils-Gustav Hahl. The first Artek store opened in Helsinki a year later in 1936.
The name Artek is a combination of the words art and technology.
Artek's range is based on iconic products by Aino and Alvar Aalto, complemented with modern classics from contemporary designers such as Daniel Rybakken and TAF Studio.
In 2010, Ilmari Tapiovaara's celebrated designs were added to Artek's selection.
Artek has operated under Swiss manufacturer Vitra since 2013.
All of Artek's bentwood furniture, such as the Aalto classics, are made in Turku, Finland.
See also:
• All products by Artek at Finnish Design Shop >
• All designs by Aino Aalto >
• All designs by Alvar Aalto >
Text: Design Stories Images: Artek
Published on 4 Oct, 2022
