Alvar Aalto

ALVAR AALTO (Finland, 1898 - 1976).
Paimio chair, ca. 1970's.
Artek edition, Finland, 2011.
Laminated wood, plywood and white lacquered bentwood.
It presents small rubs.
Measurements: 66 x 60 x 80 cm.
The Paimio chair, by the great architect Alvar Aalto, is part of the furniture designed specifically for the Paimio Anti-Tuberculosis Sanatorium project (Finland), and as such reflects functional and hygienic concepts. Its concept is based on an earlier design by Marcel Breuer, the Wassily chair, but it replaces steel with wood, as this material had more suitable characteristics for a sanatorium. In fact, wood is less thermally processed than steel, and also does not generate reflections and absorbs noise instead of contributing to its propagation. Aalto had been investigating the possibilities of bending laminated wood for some time, an idea that came to him when he studied the way skis are made. Thus, the material is bent without the need for cuts and joints, similar to Breuer's work on his chair. The Paimio chair is thus made up of two rings of laminated wood that form a frame, plus a curved sheet of birch wood that forms the seat and backrest, with a single gesture. The curvature of the form responds to the intention of facilitating the breathing of the patient, since it is a seat for rest and healing. The sculptural design is reminiscent of Aalto's other proposals, such as the Finnish Pavilion of 1939, in which he also investigates curved forms, this time to generate an exhibition space.
Architect and designer, Alvar Aalto was part of the Modern Movement and participated in the CIAM (International Congress of Modern Architecture), founded in 1928 by Le Corbusier. He was the only architect of the Second Generation of the Modern Movement to be recognized as a "master", thus putting him on a par with Le Corbusier, Van der Rohe and Gropius, the great masters of the Movement's Heroic Period. In his honor, the Alvar Aalto Medal is awarded every five years in recognition of his contribution to creative architecture. Apart from his undeniable role in shaping the architecture of the twentieth century, Aalto left an indelible mark in the area of industrial design, with works such as his "Paimio" chair or his "Savoy" glasses. He is currently represented in the world's leading museums, such as the MoMA in New York.