Artek
Description
The name Artek has always evoked a design icon rather than a company. And it couldn't be otherwise, since the founder, Alvar Aalto, was one of the pioneers of Scandinavian design. Founded in 1935 to create and promote the furniture designed by the Finnish architect, Artek soon transformed its mission, thanks to the contributions of the other three partners, Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl. The manifesto, drawn up by the members of the company, declared the intention to produce objects that integrate art and technology, as the name itself evokes. Artek has always favoured the use of natural materials, starting with wood, the raw material that is the foundation of Alvar Aalto's work. From the master's experiments on curved wood and solid wood joints come objects with a fluid and organic line, characterized by an extraordinary durability over time. Stools, armchairs, tables and indestructible chairs, made in 1930, are still in use today, and the minimalist design makes them suitable for any location, from residential to public facilities. Artek's objects have always been mass produced, according to the philosophy of the Modern Movement, and finished by hand by skilled craftsmen. Production is mostly concentrated in the Turku plant in Finland, where carpenters, who specialise in manual birch bending, glulam, plywood and veneers and lacquering, produce the finished parts without the help of intermediaries.
Export Markets
international