The simple genius
of Alvar Aalto
One of the leading lights of modernism, Finnish architect Alvar Aalto designed his buildings – from facade to furnishings – as complete works of art. To create the shapes he desired, he pioneered new ways of working with wood, steaming and bending it to form organic curves.
The deceptively simple Stool 60, designed in 1933, is one of Aalto’s most iconic designs. Its graceful bentwood “L-leg” became a signature feature he used in more than 50 different stools, chairs, and tables.
Maharam Edition Artek Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto
20 new ways to brighten a room
In a new collaboration with Maharam textiles, Artek (which Aalto co-founded in 1935) now offers the Stool 60 in 20 distinctive colors and textures to add easily portable, stackable seating to enliven any room.
Material innovations
Alvar Aalto (1898–1976)
“It was characteristic of Aalto to treat each building as a complete work of art – right down to the furniture and light fittings,” notes the Alvar Aalto Foundation. From the design of residential homes to public buildings and urban master plans, to furniture designs that endure to this day, Aalto’s influence on modern design has been profound. He helped define the tenets of modern Nordic design with his innovative use of natural materials, organic forms, undulating lines, and human-centric design.
Bending birch
Working with master furniture joiner Otto Korhonen, Aalto developed a method of steaming birch to bend it. The wood is soaked in water, then slits are cut into the ends so thin strips of wood veneer can be inserted and glued, making the finished material stronger and more stable.
The L-leg
“The basic problem in furniture design … is the connecting element between the vertical and horizontal parts,” said Aalto. His elegant solution was the L-leg, which used his trademark curves to resolve the connection between vertical leg and horizontal seat. Each of the three legs in the Stool 60 is screwed into the underside of the seat. Their positioning makes it possible to stack multiples of the stool in a graceful, twisting arc.
Aalto Tea Trolley 901
Designed in 1936, Aalto’s Tea Trolley was inspired by British tea culture as well as Japanese woodworking. Here, birch is curved into loops to create a strong, lightweight frame, and the large, thin wheels make it easy to move. It makes a stylish bar or serving cart, office organizer, plant stand, or generous side table.
