The Aalto bench 153B Kivet, created in collaboration between Artek and Marimekko, brings together two legends of Finnish design: Alvar Aalto’s classic wooden bench meets Maija Isola’s iconic patterns. The stool is part of Artek’s 90th anniversary collection, launched in 2025 and available only for a limited time.
Alvar Aalto designed the versatile Bench 153 series in 1945. Resting on solid birch L-legs, the seat of the bench has taken on several forms over the years, all from the classic slatted version to a solid top. For the anniversary edition, it has now been adorned with Isola’s Kivet pattern from her Arkkitehti (meaning "architect" in Finnish) series. The bench is made in Turku, Finland, from Finnish birch veneer using an intarsia technique that produces no material waste. The alternating direction of the birch veneer creates a subtle effect, making the pattern’s tone shift depending on the angle of view –a truly Artek-esque way to celebrate an anniversary!
