Ok I guess Alvar Aalto is proving to be one of my favorite contemporary designers in that I enjoy so many of his works and his clean, simple design style. The Paimio Chair is quite well known and is admired by many for its clean lines and comfort even though it is not a plush chair. When you first see this piece of furniture you may think that the original was commissioned for a contemporary residence and you would be half right.
The Paimio chair came after Alvar Alto was commissioned to design the Paimio sanatorium which was exclusively built to serve the needs of tuberculosis patients in the mid 1930’s. The Paimio chair was one of many furnishings which Aalto designed for the sanatorium and was used for the patients to sit in at a specific angle which was believed to alleviate pressure on the lungs allowing the patients to breathe easier and adding to their comfort.
This extremely simple and functional piece of art is still being produced today by the Artek company founded in the late 1930s by Alvar and a partner. This work of art is also housed in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York along with other works by Alvar Aalto.
This particular chair moves me and other as well in many different ways because of its aesthetics and simple beauty. I happen to come across a rather unique example how this design inspired in 3D modeling study. Before you view or jump to the end of the clip, can you tell which of the images below is the actual chair and which is the model? I must say that I was rather surprised myself.
3D modeling study of the Paimio chair.
