Last October 15, the Finnish companyย  Artek turned 85, a significant milestone, especially in light of the modernity of the company that has been able to impose its style without ever really aging. The original vision was indeed very far-sighted: in 1935 Aino and Alvar Aalto, Marie Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl, founded Artek, an acronym of art and technology with the aim of "selling furniture and promoting a modern culture of living through exhibitions and other educational tools ". Furniture, therefore, as a means of disseminating a culture of design made of authenticity, longevity and sustainable use of materials. Artek uses certified wood from the Finnish forests and has been producing almost all of its production in the Turku factory since 1920. Design and production are carried out with the aim of making each piece as long-lived as possible and therefore with quality elements but also easily replaceable in case of damage. Conceived therefore to last for a long time, they also resist the succession of formal trends, precisely because each project is faithful to the style of the company: essential, functional, welcoming. And versatile, just think of the seats suitable for domestic but also professional and public contexts. This is why, perhaps more than other companies, Artek can count on collections with multiple lives, experienced by furnishings that over time can reinvent their intended use.

Chair 611 by Alvar Aalto 1929

Chair 611 by Artek

One of the most iconic pieces in Artek's history, and also exemplary of the longevity of its style and versatility of its projects is certainly the 611 chair designed in 1929 by Alvar Aalto, one of the founders of the company. It was one of Alvar Aalto's first projects and produced seamlessly since 1929. The structure is in birch, the fabric is woven onto it which, in addition to making the seat comfortable, can be reupholstered to extend its life almost to the infinite, but also to renew color and style.

Stool 60 ย by Alvar Aalto 1933

Stool 60 by Artek

Another undisputed icon of Artek is the 60 stool, also signed by Alvar Aalto, perfect in its essentiality and chameleon, thanks to the infinite chromatic and decorative interpretations it can offer. Proposed not only as a seat but also as a coffee table, container and display unit, it is hand-made in 42 steps and is stackable.

Bench 153 by Alvar Aalto 1945

Bench 153 by Artek

Bench 153 is light and versatile and also in this case Alvar Aalto wanted to design a piece of furniture that was suitable for both domestic and public spaces. Birch wood, a recurring motif in Artek productions, is the absolute protagonist here, with the vertical elements composed in a skilful balance of lightness and stability.

The news 2020

Tupla Wall Hook by Artek

If the furnishings designed by Alvar Aalto have marked the history of Artek, today the signature of the brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec is felt, regularly called upon to design new elements that are consistent with the style and intention of Artek. They are the signature on the two new projects launched this year: theย  Rope chair which seems a dramatization of Aalto chair 611 of which it takes the relationship between structure and rope to its extreme consequences, where this is literally reduced to the essential, in a whole which almost seems like magic. The second project is theย  Tupla Wall Hook, a wall coat hook, a precious accessory for the entrance but also interesting to interpret as a support for decorative elements throughout the house. Also from this year is the re-edition of the Aslak seat by Ilmari Tapiovaara, designed in 1946 and entered into production in 1958. It is in beech, stackable and light with short rounded armrests and a curved and welcoming backrest.

Cover photo ยฉ Copyright exploitation rights with Artek

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