Armchair 42 – or “Small Paimio” – was designed by Alvar Aalto for the Paimio Sanatorium in 1932. This sculptural chair seems to test the limits of bent plywood manufacturing. The frame is made from laminated birch shaped to produce a cantilevered chair; the seat and back are created from one piece of form-pressed plywood. Alvar Aalto chose to use native birch for its natural feel and insulating properties. The fluidity of the design creates a comfortable and soft place to sit. The result is an Armchair 42 without straight lines, an armchair of exceptional aesthetic appeal, ensuring that as the chair ages, it remains perfectly balanced.
This edition by Artek from the early eighties has a nice patina on its white seat and back.