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.
