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  5. Aalto stool 60, anniversary edition, sky blue - birch

Aalto stool 60, anniversary edition, sky blue - birch

Artek

Colour: Birch, blue

Artek
Aalto stool 60

Description

Artek's Stool 60, also called the Aalto stool after its designer Alvar Aalto, is one of the most beloved icons of Finnish furniture design. Stool 60 with a sky blue seat is part of the Paimio Sanatorium Anniversary Collection, launched in the summer of 2023 to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Paimio Sanatorium. The colours of the stools were selected from the sanatorium's original colour palette created by Alvar Aalto and artist Eino Kauria, with the sky blue hue symbolising the healing power of clean air.

First introduced in 1933, the Aalto stool caused quite a sensation in the design world of its time due to its revolutionary L-leg structure. To bend the leg of Aalto’s stool, a piece of straight, solid birch is sawn open at the end in the direction of the fibres, forming the shape of a fan, with thin pieces of plywood then glued in the grooves. This structure makes it possible to bend the wood by heating or steaming it at the desired angle and when dry, it will have a very strong structure that can be easily attached to the seat.

The proceeds from the anniversary collection will be directed to the Paimio Sanatorium: for every stool sold, Artek will donate €30 to the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation. The anniversary editions are available until June 2024 or as long as stocks last.

Colour
Birch, blue
Width
38 cm
Height
44 cm
Seat material
Painted solid birch
Base material
Lacquered solid birch
Notes
Comes flat-packed. Every anniversary product is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
Warranty
50 years (outside the U.S. or Canada)
Product ID

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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