Aalto chair 65, birch - white laminate

Artek’s chair number 65 is one of the many dining chairs designed by Alvar Aalto in the 1930’s. Made of a single piece of birchwood veneer, the backrest is lower than usual as well as slightly curved, making the chair comfortable to sit on. Typical of Aalto furniture, the round seat is supported by four L-legs.

The L-leg structure is achieved by sawing a piece of straight, solid birch open at the end in the direction of the fibres, forming the shape of a fan. Thin pieces of plywood are then glued into the grooves. This structure makes it possible to bend the wood by heating or steaming the desired angle and, when completely dry, the strong structure can be attached directly to the seat.

Alvar Aalto

Artek was founded in 1935 by four young idealists – Alvar and Aino Aalto, Nils-Gustav Hahl and Maire Gullichsen published a design manifesto inspired by functionalism, stating that Artek’s aim was “to sell furniture and to promote modern culture of habitation by exhibitions and other means”. Since its foundation, Artek has played in the intersection of design, architecture, and art, making Finnish design and Alvar Aalto's furniture known all over the world.