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Artek Aalto chair 69, birch
Artek Aalto chair 69, birch
Artek Aalto chair 69, birch
Artek Aalto chair 69, birch
Artek Aalto chair 69, birch
Artek Aalto chair 69, birch
Artek Aalto chair 69, birch
Artek Aalto chair 69, birch
Artek Aalto chair 69, birch
Artek Aalto chair 69, birch
Artek Aalto chair 69, birch
Artek Aalto chair 69, birch

Description

Chair 69 was designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek in 1935. Chair 69 is one of Aalto’s best-known dining chairs, and its simple yet vivid character easily suits any room of the house. The wide seat and backrest provide superior stability and everyday function for various different situations.

The chair uses Aalto’s L-leg structure, which allows the legs to be attached directly to the seat. At the time, the L-leg structure was considered nothing short of revolutionary, giving a major boost for all modern Scandinavian design. The same technique is still used to bend the legs of Aalto’s chair: a piece of straight, solid birch is sawn open at the end in the direction of the fibres, forming the shape of a fan. Thin pieces of plywood are then glued in the grooves. This structure makes it possible to bend the wood by heating or steaming the desired angle and when dry, it will have a very strong texture that can be easily attached to the seat.

Artek

Aalto chair 69, birch

Design:

Availability

Ships next business day

Quantity

Details

Width
44 cm
Depth
47 cm
Height
76 cm
Seat height
45.5 cm
Material
Birch
Notes
Comes flat-packed. A lower model is available as a special order, please contact our customer service for details.

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Email : info@finnishdesignshop.com
Tel: +358 20 743 2530
(Mon–Fri 9:00–22:00,
Sat–Sun 10:00–18:00 EET)

Alvar Aalto

Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) is probably the most famous Finnish architect and designer in the world. In 1921 Alvar Aalto got the Diploma of Architecture at the Helsinki Institute of Technology and his career as an architect started. One of the most important works he was commissioned was the planning of the tuberculosis sanatorium in Paimio, Finland. This project meant also the beginning of Aalto’s career as a furniture designer – in fact, this was the first building planned by Aalto which was entirely furnished with pieces of furniture designed by Aalto himself – including the lighting as well. Other important projects completed by Alvar Aalto are the Viipuri Municipal Library, Villa Mairea, La Maison Carré and the Finnish Pavilions for the 1937 Paris and 1939 New York World Fairs.

In 1935 Alvar Aalto, together with Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl, founded Artek, a world-renowned furniture and lighting company. The company was created "to sell furniture" – designed by Alvar Aalto – "and to promote modern culture of habitation by exhibitions and other means". 

One of the most ingenious innovations by Alvar Aalto is the L-leg, patented in 1933. Aalto considered his L-leg design his greatest achievement and even compared it to the invention of the architectonic column. Thanks to this innovation, the legs could be attached directly to the table, chair and stool tops. Alvar Aalto was a versatile designer whose work covered different fields. He is well-known also for his elegant lamps, which very often were designed for individual construction projects and later on adapted for the serial production. Alvar Aalto was also an esteemed glass designer and his most famous work as a glass designer is the Aalto vase (or Savoy vase) – one of the most iconic glassware pieces in Finnish design.

Would you like to read more about Alvar Aalto and his work? Discover our books:
Aalto, Alvar Aalto Homes, Alvar Aalto Libraries, Alvar Aalto Designer, Alvar Aalto – The Mark of the Hand, Alvar Aalto – A Gentler Structure for Life, Alvar Aalto Architect vol. 5, Alvar Aalto Architect vol. 18, Alvar Aalto Architect vol. 20, Iittala, Atlas of Mid-Century Modern Houses, Mid-Century Modern Design, Modernist Escapes: An Architectural Travel Guide

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