Aalto tea trolley 901, all black

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.

The Dutch designer Hella Jongerius (b.1963) studied industrial design at the Design Academy of Eindhoven. After her graduation she did some projects for the Amsterdam-based design company Droog Design. Since 1993 she has run her own studio, Jongeriuslab, in Rotterdam. Through Jongeriuslab she designs textiles, crockery and furniture. Her design is characterized by combining opposites, for example traditional and contemporary. Jongerius has done projects for big international companies such as Vitra, Artek, Kvadrat and Ikea. Her work can also be seen in many museums, for example in MoMA in New York.