Artek

The Artek Story

In 1935, Alvar and Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl teamed up to "promote a modern culture of habitation by exhibitions and other educational means." They wanted to change the way the public viewed modern design by incorporating their beautiful, simple, functional designs into everyday life. "Artek" is a mashup of Art and Technology and sums up the company's philosophy.

Their designs are heavily influenced by Alvar Aalto, renowned for his mid-century modern creations that not only support work, living and educational spaces in their clear functions, but elegantly decorate them as well.

Why We Love Artek Furniture

Their devotion to promoting the welfare of the people has made Artek a lighthouse of contemporary excellence. Artek exemplifies modern Scandinavian design in the minimalist beauty and clear humanistic functional purpose of their products. They have a deep respect for early modern designers, like Alvar Aalto and Eero Aarnio, and continue to introduce modern furniture collections that uphold these designers' traditionally simplistic style. It is because of this appreciation for and understanding of understated design that Artek's pieces are able to translate so easily to today's contemporary homes.

Fun Facts About Artek

Many of Artek's pieces were originally created for use in public venues, like schools and museums. The A330 Pendant, for example, was designed for large building projects in the 1950s, first used in the "Lyhty" teachers' lounge at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.

Noteworthy Products from Artek

As one of the most noteworthy stools in modern design, Alvar Aalto's 1933 Stool 60 is re-introduced by Artek and is a go-to choice for an iconic piece. It's available in a variety of variations and colors too, making it easy to find a home anywhere in yours. And the Pirkka collection showcases Artek's soft approach to contemporary furniture.

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