The Paimio armchair is one of the most beautiful chairs designed by Alvar Aalto. Its lightness and structural genius are without compare. The Paimio chair was created as part of the Paimio Sanatorium’s overall project, which commission was received by Alvar Aalto in 1929 after winning a design competition. Instead of using the traditional metal tubes, Aalto wanted something warmer and more human for the furniture. With this in mind, Aalto created in 1931 the Paimio chair, which was manufactured of bent plywood and laminated wood. Aalto wanted to create for the sanatorium pieces of furniture which would promote with their functionalism, but also with their beauty, patients’ well-being. Beside the aesthetic reasons, the Paimio chair was designed also to make it easier for patients to breath. The Paimio Sanatorium’s design made Alvar Aalto famous worldwide as an architect, but it meant also the beginning of his career as a furniture designer.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Konstantin Grcic defines function in human terms, combining strict forms with considerable mental acuity and humour. Each of his products expresses a careful research into the history of design and architecture, and his passion for technology and materials. Known for his pared-down pieces, Grcic is often called a minimalist, but the designer himself prefers to speak of simplicity.
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