Classic Furniture Design Profile

406 Armchair by Alvar Aalto

Alvar Aalto successfully created a cantilevered chair made from laminated Birch timber which previously had only been possible to achieve in steel.

This timber frame work had been used successfully with his 1933 cantilevered armchair for the Paimio Sanitarium.

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The 406 chair used a woven cotton interlaced webbing attached to the frame with screws, as the seat and back to make the chair more comfortable than the timber plywood version.

The webbed seating allows the human back more movement an the chair's back is higher than the previous plywood version and therefore supports the upper back and neck better.

The webbing also allows for good airflow around the chair.

This 406 chair was the mature design of his original concept. Aalto believed in the importance of continuing with a design concept to fully achieve it's potential, and he certainly has with this chair.

It's gentle curves and airy form suggests it has movement as a piece of furniture, it doesn't look static and when you sit in the chair it moves and flexes confirming this. A very comfortable chair. It is sometimes referred to as the Pension Chair.

About the Designer - Lean more about how using new technology enabled this designer to experiment with steam bent timber to create innovative furniture designs.

Further Resources on the Designer - find other web sites and look for books.

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More Alvar Aalto Furniture Profiled here

Viipuri Stacking Stools - Alvar Aalto

Simple three legged design in timber, timeless stacking stool.

Cantilevered Chair no 31 - Alvar Aalto

Continuous cantilevered frame, this chair was made from laminated steam bend Birch timber.

Serving Cart - Alvar Aalto

Innovative use of timber in this design to make the traditional metal functional trolley more human for use in a hospital.

Paimio Chair - Alvar Aalto

Organic and curvaceous in it's form, this chair used steam bent timber and laminated plywood.




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