Domus chair, lacquered oak

Artek's Domus chair was designed by Finnish interior architect and designer Ilmari Tapiovaara in 1946. The chair was designed for the Domus Academica student housing complex, located in Helsinki and drawn by architect Pauli Salomaa. The interior and furniture design of the complex was the first large-scale project for Ilmari Tapiovaara and his wife Annikki Tapiovaara.

Domus was designed to be a multifunctional chair that would meet the diverse needs of student housing. It served in the student rooms, hallways, auditoriums and conference rooms as well as in the cafeteria. Domus chair is a stackable, comfortable and ergonomic piece of furniture with an elegant, timeless design. Nowadays manufactured by Artek, the chair has become a beloved classic of Finnish design.

Ilmari Tapiovaara

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.