Ilmari Tapiovaara’s Domus chair steps into a new palette

Domus chairs around a round table — Leather and textile, vibrant and calm hues – the updated Domus chairs offer upholstery options for a wide range of tastes.

First introduced in 1946, the Domus chair is a Finnish design classic whose slender proportions and exceptional comfort continue to win over new generations. To mark its 80th anniversary, Artek presents the chair in a selection of fresh colors and updated upholstery options.

Text: Nora Uotila

CREATED BY Ilmari Tapiovaara, one of Finland’s most renowned designers and interior architects, the Domus chair has furnished homes, offices and public spaces around the world since 1946.

As the iconic chair celebrates its 80th anniversary, Artek has reimagined it with entirely new colors and materials.

In the new collection, the seat and backrest are upholstered in either leather or fabric, finished with contrasting leather piping along the edges. The updated palette draws on color studies Tapiovaara originally created for his individual interior projects.

Domus chairs around a rectangular dining table — The Domus collection includes models with and without upholstery. All chairs are manufactured in Finland.

Detail of the Domus chair — Thanks to its short armrests, the Domus chair works perfectly for dining – it’s easy to pull in close to the table.

Green leather-upholstered Domus chair — This honey-stained Domus chair is upholstered in green-toned leather.

Yellow fabric-upholstered Domus chair — The light yellow fabric upholstery pairs beautifully with the pale birch frame.

The story of the Domus chair begins with Domus Academica, a student residence completed in 1946 to ease the housing shortage in post-war Helsinki.

Ilmari Tapiovaara and his wife, interior architect Annikki Tapiovaara, won the design competition for furnishing both the private rooms and shared spaces of the building.

The Domus chair quickly became a success, helping propel Tapiovaara to international recognition.

• Read the story: Ilmari Tapiovaara – life, oblivion and rediscovery >

Ilmari Tapiovaara with a scale model of the Domus chair — Ilmari Tapiovaara is especially known for his passion for chairs. Released in 1946, the Domus chair marked his breakthrough both in Finland and internationally.

Domus chairs in the interior of Domus Academica — The slender Domus chairs were easy to place throughout the Domus Academica student residence.

Scale models of Domus chairs — The stackable structure makes the chairs easy to store.

Comfort was at the heart of Tapiovaara’s design approach for the Domus chair, as life in the residence revolved around studying, dining and socializing with other students.

Comfort was at the heart of Tapiovaara’s design approach for the Domus chair.

The chair’s bent plywood seat was shaped to follow the contours of the body, while small armrests were added for extra support.

The result is a chair that feels both refined and warmly inviting – its name, Domus, comes from Latin and means “home.”

Domus chairs around a dining table — In addition to lighter wood finishes, the Domus collection also includes dark-stained models.

Domus chair at a desk — The upholstered seat makes the chair comfortable even for longer reading or working sessions.

Red leather-upholstered Domus chair — Leather piping adds contrast to the new chairs – in this model, terracotta-toned leather meets cognac-coloured piping.

Light fabric-upholstered Domus chair — The new hues are based on color studies Tapiovaara created for his individual interior projects.

The new upholstery selection ranges from soft semi-aniline leather to durable fabrics made from recycled materials. The colour palette spans from classic brown and beige to brighter shades of yellow, red, and green.

The expanded upholstery options make the Domus an even more versatile all-purpose chair, suited to dining, lounging and working alike.

Like earlier versions of the Domus chair, the new models are also manufactured in Finland.