Aalto Chair Made of Birch Wood

Alvar Aalto is considered one of the most important Scandinavian designers and architects of the 20. century. He designed his chair, numbered 66 , in 193 5. In the same year, Aalto founded the company Artek together with his wife Aino and two designer friends; the company still produces the chair today. Influenced by the German Bauhaus movement, Alvar Aalto began experimenting with plywood in 1927. Natural materials and organic forms became a hallmark of his designs. This is also evident in the 66 chair, which is made entirely of birch wood and features numerous curves and rounded surfaces.

Innovative, Unmatched Stability

The seat of the 66 chair is supported by four legs that are attached to the underside of the seat without a frame or other supports. The bending of wood required for this was a technical innovation at the time the chair was created—a technique Aalto had been experimenting with alongside Otto Korhonen since 1929. The resulting L-shape of the chair legs still guarantees unmatched stability today.

Organically Curved Designs

The flat backrest of the “ 66 ” chair is attached to the two rear legs. Here, too, rounded forms define the chair’s appearance. Organic and curved wooden designs, as seen in the “ 66 ” chair, are a hallmark of Alvar Aalto. In doing so, he deliberately rejected the cold, machine-like aesthetics and artificial materials of Modernism. Artek ’s “ 66 ” chair is available in various colors and also in an upholstered version. The chair is delivered unassembled.