The Riihitie plant pots, designed by Aino Aalto for the family’s home in Helsinki, were part of the collection the Aaltos presented at the Paris World Fair in 1937. 80 years later, Artek launched the ceramic planters, named after the street address of their original setting, in celebration of the centenary of Finland’s independence. Organic, undulating design of the handcrafted Riihitie pots reflects the Aaltos’ close connection to nature.
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Riihitie plant pot B, medium, light grey
Artek
Description
The Riihitie plant pots, designed by Aino Aalto for the family’s home in Helsinki, were part of the collection the Aaltos presented at the Paris World Fair in 1937. 80 years later, Artek launched the ceramic planters, named after the street address of their original setting, in celebration of the centenary of Finland’s independence. Organic, undulating design of the handcrafted Riihitie pots reflects the Aaltos’ close connection to nature.
- Length: 28 cm
- Width: 23 cm
- Height: 16 cm
- Material Glazed ceramic
- Colour Light grey
- Notes No drainage hole in the bottom. Suitable for indoors only.
- Product ID: AK664203
Aino Aalto (1894–1949) was a renowned Finnish architect and designer whose work blended functional thinking with everyday practicality. She qualified as an architect in the 1920s and worked closely with her husband Alvar Aalto, while also building a strong, independent career of her own. Aino Aalto is especially celebrated for her glass and interior design work – her glassware collections from the 1930s are considered iconic examples of early Nordic modernism, where clarity, simplicity and beauty meet.
Aino Aalto also played a pivotal role in the founding of Artek in 1935, where she worked as an interior architect and served as artistic director, helping to shape the brand’s enduring vision and aesthetic.
Aino Aalto: An early visionary of Nordic design
Aino Marsio-Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer whose work played a decisive role in the birth of modern Finnish design. Like her husband Alvar Aalto, she studied architecture at the Helsinki University of Technology, then known as the Helsinki Polytechnic. She began working at Alvar Aalto’s office in Jyväskylä in 1924, and the couple married later that same year.
This marked the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration that extended from architecture to everyday objects. Among their most celebrated joint architectural projects are the Paimio Sanatorium, Villa Mairea in Noormarkku, and the Savoy Restaurant in Helsinki.
Aino Aalto and Artek
In 1935, Aino Aalto, Alvar Aalto, Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl founded Artek, which has since become one of the most iconic Finnish design companies of all time. Aino Aalto’s influence at Artek was profound: alongside her design work, she also led the company from 1941 until 1949.
Aino Aalto’s distinctive touch is clearly visible in Artek’s early identity, where modern design was brought into everyday life. Her lighting, furniture and plant pots remain part of Artek’s collection to this day.
Aino Aalto as a glass designer
Aino Aalto is best known for the glassware series she designed in 1932, which is still in production at Iittala. She created the collection for a competition seeking a beautiful yet practical glassware set suitable for mass production. Inspired by ripples forming on the surface of water, the series attracted immediate international attention upon its launch. Originally known as Bölgeblick, the collection was awarded a gold medal at the Milan Triennale in 1936.
Aino Aalto’s glasses are equally at home in everyday table settings and festive occasions alike. Their elegant, timeless form continues to captivate decade after decade.
Who: Aino Aalto
- Finnish architect and designer (1894–1949).
- A key figure in the emergence of modern Finnish design.
- Co-founder of Artek and its first artistic director.
- Known for the Aino Aalto glassware series for Iittala, the Riihitie plant pots for Artek, and numerous collaborative projects with Alvar Aalto.
Design Stories: Read more and get inspired
- Aino Aalto was a strict functionalist, who aimed at a clear and simple style >
- Influential women in Scandinavian design – spotlight on four pioneers >
- Celebrating 90 years of Artek’s timeless design >
Would you like to explore Aino Aalto’s life and work in more depth? Discover books from our collection:
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The Product Sustainability Framework, our criteria of sustainable design, helps you find the most sustainable products in our selection. Read below which sustainability criteria this product has met.
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Equal opportunities for all employees -
Commitment to UN Global Compact, fair compensation for all employees
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Corporate responsibility requirements defined and communicated for suppliers
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Systematic work for improved inclusion and well-being in the workplace
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Transparent supply chain
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Suppliers' compliance to a code of conduct ensured
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Compliance to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ensured in the supply chain
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Direct suppliers audited and certified
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Support for community involvement in the supply chain
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Fair and resource-wise water-use in production
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No incineration or landfilling of returned items
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No use of endangered species as materials
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No direct environmental emissions or waste (excl. GHGs) from production
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Production and material sourcing that respect biodiversity, animal rights, and natural ecosystems
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Material-efficient and ecological packaging
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No potentially harmful chemicals used in own production
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The sustainability of direct suppliers' production is addressed and monitored
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Positive impact on nature’s well-being through operations that regenerate natural ecosystems
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Company's direct greenhouse gas emissions identified and commitment to reduction
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Product's carbon impact identified and commitment to reduction
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Guidance on energy- and eco-efficient use of the product
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Contribution to climate initiatives beyond the brand’s direct operations
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100 % renewable energy in own production and operations
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Low-carbon or compensated transportation
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Carbon footprint of the product calculated and goals set to reduce it
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Carbon neutral or carbon negative product
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Sustainable and long-lasting material choices
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No harmful or hazardous substances
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Responsible raw material sourcing and production
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Materials suited for circularity: monomaterials, recyclable finishings, renewable or recycled contents etc.
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Ecological materials: natural, biodegradable, recyclable or recycled contents
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Outstanding materials in terms of innovativeness, responsibility, sustainability and circularity: local production or sourcing, 100 % recycled content, C2C-certification etc.
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High aesthetic quality promoting long-term use of the product
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Technically durable product design and material choices
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Design for enduring life-long quality
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Design and support for product maintenance, repair and upgradability
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Innovative circular design solutions: circular service system, resale platform, remanufacturing, collection of used products, etc.
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