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The museum's bathroom is kitted out with Castelli Ferrieri's 5021/64 Outline System, the 1978 modular wall organizer based on shaker pegs. Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!
The museum's bathroom is kitted out with Castelli Ferrieri's 5021/64 Outline System, the 1978 modular wall organizer based on shaker pegs. Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!
Functional, friendly and colorful—to the point of appearing almost cartoonish—a stack of nesting 4906/07 tables by Giotto Stoppino and a bright blue 4850 stacking chair by Giorgina Castiglioni, Giorgio Gaviraghi, and Aldo Lanza, give the spirit of the company's direction by the late 1960s.
Functional, friendly and colorful—to the point of appearing almost cartoonish—a stack of nesting 4906/07 tables by Giotto Stoppino and a bright blue 4850 stacking chair by Giorgina Castiglioni, Giorgio Gaviraghi, and Aldo Lanza, give the spirit of the company's direction by the late 1960s.
The Kartell museum is located in Noviglio, just outside Milan.
The Kartell museum is located in Noviglio, just outside Milan.
A young Milanese architect named Joe Colombo realized the 4801 armchair in 1964. An anomaly in the catalog, the chair is made entirely from wood without the use of screws or glue.
A young Milanese architect named Joe Colombo realized the 4801 armchair in 1964. An anomaly in the catalog, the chair is made entirely from wood without the use of screws or glue.
Gino Colombini's KS 1068 dustpan with handle came in an array of progressive colors enjoyed tremendous success upon its 1957 release. It has subsequently been added to museum collections the world over, including MoMA.
Gino Colombini's KS 1068 dustpan with handle came in an array of progressive colors enjoyed tremendous success upon its 1957 release. It has subsequently been added to museum collections the world over, including MoMA.
1950's K 101 Ski Rack by Carlo Barassi and Roberto Menghi, a rubberized set of straps that easily clipped onto a car roof (as opposed to the bulky and unwieldy roof racks then on the market), was the first Kartell product. It proved to be a great success.
1950's K 101 Ski Rack by Carlo Barassi and Roberto Menghi, a rubberized set of straps that easily clipped onto a car roof (as opposed to the bulky and unwieldy roof racks then on the market), was the first Kartell product. It proved to be a great success.
The delicate looking KS 1475 carpet beater was made with polyethylene surrounding a metal core.
The delicate looking KS 1475 carpet beater was made with polyethylene surrounding a metal core.
Initially developed for Fiat dealerships, Musée D'Orsay architect Gae Aulenti's 1974 collection, including the 4894 table and 4794 armchair seen here, were produced in a moulded rigid polyurethane that had a new texture and matte finish.
Initially developed for Fiat dealerships, Musée D'Orsay architect Gae Aulenti's 1974 collection, including the 4894 table and 4794 armchair seen here, were produced in a moulded rigid polyurethane that had a new texture and matte finish.
By the early 1960s the company's design aesthetic had become more refined, and in a way prefigured the space age look that was to become popular by the decade's end. Euginio Gentili Tedeschi's 4062 suspension lamp from 1962 is almost a yard in diameter, and would have been impossible to produce (for cost and technical reasons) in any other material than plastic.
By the early 1960s the company's design aesthetic had become more refined, and in a way prefigured the space age look that was to become popular by the decade's end. Euginio Gentili Tedeschi's 4062 suspension lamp from 1962 is almost a yard in diameter, and would have been impossible to produce (for cost and technical reasons) in any other material than plastic.
The intensely postmodern 4814 lounge chair with two wheels was among Anna Castelli Ferrieri's last designs for the brand.
The intensely postmodern 4814 lounge chair with two wheels was among Anna Castelli Ferrieri's last designs for the brand.
Having produced an array of lab ware, in 1955 Kartell was among the first companies to introduce plastic products to the home environment. The KS 1067 dustpan by Gino Colombini was among their first.
Having produced an array of lab ware, in 1955 Kartell was among the first companies to introduce plastic products to the home environment. The KS 1067 dustpan by Gino Colombini was among their first.
Colombo's 4029 table lamp features indentations to house desktop items.
Colombo's 4029 table lamp features indentations to house desktop items.
Gerd Lange's space age 4064/65 suspension lamps prefigure today's popular FL/Y lamp by Kartell art director Ferruccio Laviani.
Gerd Lange's space age 4064/65 suspension lamps prefigure today's popular FL/Y lamp by Kartell art director Ferruccio Laviani.
The 4545 "centipede" bed by Antonio Locatelli and Pietro Salmoiraghi from 1972 was one of company's least successful offerings and only remained in production for a year.
The 4545 "centipede" bed by Antonio Locatelli and Pietro Salmoiraghi from 1972 was one of company's least successful offerings and only remained in production for a year.
FOLD. FOLD by TERHI TUOMINEN This elegantly facetted stacking chair is made from locally sourced alder wood joined by wood glue. Its finished using an organic oil that helps to prolong it life and promote a lifetime of use.
FOLD. FOLD by TERHI TUOMINEN This elegantly facetted stacking chair is made from locally sourced alder wood joined by wood glue. Its finished using an organic oil that helps to prolong it life and promote a lifetime of use.
TUPA CHAIR by SIMO HEIKKILÄ The Tupa chair is manufactured in Fiskars, Finland from local materials—aspen wood—using local methods. The inspiration comes from using a common form of joinery from traditional home construction, albeit on a smaller scale. Just hope your cat doesn't mistake the seat for his litterbox.
TUPA CHAIR by SIMO HEIKKILÄ The Tupa chair is manufactured in Fiskars, Finland from local materials—aspen wood—using local methods. The inspiration comes from using a common form of joinery from traditional home construction, albeit on a smaller scale. Just hope your cat doesn't mistake the seat for his litterbox.
RE-JACKET by PASI PÄNKÄLÄINEN Pänkäläinen's chair makes a statement about the globe's rising temperatures and the diminishing need for his heavy winter outerwear. Re-Jacket features a standard parka fitted to a power-coated bent aluminum frame.
RE-JACKET by PASI PÄNKÄLÄINEN Pänkäläinen's chair makes a statement about the globe's rising temperatures and the diminishing need for his heavy winter outerwear. Re-Jacket features a standard parka fitted to a power-coated bent aluminum frame.
BEDOUIN by ILKKA SUPPANEN Helsinki Design Week's Designer of the Year presents a collapsible lightweight chair that takes up very little room—minimizing both storage and transport costs. It was also constructed from entirely renewable materials.
BEDOUIN by ILKKA SUPPANEN Helsinki Design Week's Designer of the Year presents a collapsible lightweight chair that takes up very little room—minimizing both storage and transport costs. It was also constructed from entirely renewable materials.
V.31 by LUDI ARCHITECTS A playful chair shaped like a traditionally carved tree trunk is made from 100% wool felt. The architects feel that tremendous amounts of wood are wasted in production where was with felt nothing is lost.
V.31 by LUDI ARCHITECTS A playful chair shaped like a traditionally carved tree trunk is made from 100% wool felt. The architects feel that tremendous amounts of wood are wasted in production where was with felt nothing is lost.
LASTUJA LOUNGE CHAIR by TAPIO ANTTILA Carpentry around the world produced huge amounts of chip waste that is usually destroyed by burning. Anttila suggests that were his recycled plastic chair to make it to production the chips could be sourced by the user, minimizing shipping costs and energy.
LASTUJA LOUNGE CHAIR by TAPIO ANTTILA Carpentry around the world produced huge amounts of chip waste that is usually destroyed by burning. Anttila suggests that were his recycled plastic chair to make it to production the chips could be sourced by the user, minimizing shipping costs and energy.
ORANGE BOX by HANNU KÄHÖNEN Kähönen argues that in the big picture chairs are "inessential from an ecological point of view." With this in mind he aimed to create a seat that minimized the use of materials and energy to produce. The Orange box is made with simple tools from just two standard Finnish orange crates and a piece of string.
ORANGE BOX by HANNU KÄHÖNEN Kähönen argues that in the big picture chairs are "inessential from an ecological point of view." With this in mind he aimed to create a seat that minimized the use of materials and energy to produce. The Orange box is made with simple tools from just two standard Finnish orange crates and a piece of string.
SAUNA BENCH by EERO AARNIO The master of space-age pop plastics takes a turn for the natural with this sauna bench made from Finnish fur. It's intended to be used outdoors and is treated with black Pinotex timber oil. Aarnio doesn't intend for the chair to be mass-produced, but rather treated as an artifact that can be passed down from generation to generation.
SAUNA BENCH by EERO AARNIO The master of space-age pop plastics takes a turn for the natural with this sauna bench made from Finnish fur. It's intended to be used outdoors and is treated with black Pinotex timber oil. Aarnio doesn't intend for the chair to be mass-produced, but rather treated as an artifact that can be passed down from generation to generation.
ECHO by HEIKKI RUOHO Echo is made from a new recycled and recyclable corrugated cardboard. Ruoho used the exhibition as a launching point to show the results of his experiments with the material. Two pieces of the board slide and fold together, resulting in a chair that requires no glue (or any other material for that matter) to provide a comfortable seat. Too minimal? Simply customize with a sharpie.
ECHO by HEIKKI RUOHO Echo is made from a new recycled and recyclable corrugated cardboard. Ruoho used the exhibition as a launching point to show the results of his experiments with the material. Two pieces of the board slide and fold together, resulting in a chair that requires no glue (or any other material for that matter) to provide a comfortable seat. Too minimal? Simply customize with a sharpie.
2.5 KG CHAIR by BJÖRN DAHLSTRÖM Weighing in at, you guessed it, 2.5 kilograms Dahlström's chair weights about half of the industry average. He suggests that by stripping away at the mass of our objects we could achieve massive change—for 50,000 of these chairs 150 tons of processed wood could be saved.
2.5 KG CHAIR by BJÖRN DAHLSTRÖM Weighing in at, you guessed it, 2.5 kilograms Dahlström's chair weights about half of the industry average. He suggests that by stripping away at the mass of our objects we could achieve massive change—for 50,000 of these chairs 150 tons of processed wood could be saved.
Outside the atelier are cast bronze lights adapted from an interior design for Finland's National Pensions Institute (completed in 1956) finance department's conference room.
Outside the atelier are cast bronze lights adapted from an interior design for Finland's National Pensions Institute (completed in 1956) finance department's conference room.
A624 is a large scale lamp capped by a large parabolically-curved reflector.
A624 is a large scale lamp capped by a large parabolically-curved reflector.
This pendant version of lamp A335 is made from white enamel. Other variations include an inner ring of brass—a detail often seen on Aalto's lighting.
This pendant version of lamp A335 is made from white enamel. Other variations include an inner ring of brass—a detail often seen on Aalto's lighting.
Another fixture developed for the National Pensions Institute found its way into Aalto's home to light the dining table. An oil painting by the architect hangs in the background.
Another fixture developed for the National Pensions Institute found its way into Aalto's home to light the dining table. An oil painting by the architect hangs in the background.
In another of the bedrooms is an unusual variation of Aalto's famous "golden bell" fixture. The light was originally developed for Helsinki's Savoy Restaurant, which Aalto designed in 1937.
In another of the bedrooms is an unusual variation of Aalto's famous "golden bell" fixture. The light was originally developed for Helsinki's Savoy Restaurant, which Aalto designed in 1937.
The canteen also features large tensile pieces of canvas lit from behind—a design strategy Aalto later used to illuminate the music room of the Villa Kokkonen.
The canteen also features large tensile pieces of canvas lit from behind—a design strategy Aalto later used to illuminate the music room of the Villa Kokkonen.
Aalto would often linger for discussion-filled afternoons in the Atelier's canteen. The A111 fixture (a variation of the A110 with brass tubing) was developed for Artek. In the company's prosaic naming methods "A" recognized that the design was by Alvar Aalto (his wife Aino's design were tagged AMA).
Aalto would often linger for discussion-filled afternoons in the Atelier's canteen. The A111 fixture (a variation of the A110 with brass tubing) was developed for Artek. In the company's prosaic naming methods "A" recognized that the design was by Alvar Aalto (his wife Aino's design were tagged AMA).
Like fishing lines dangling off a pier, in Aalto's expansive office various lighting experiments hang from a small mezzanine. The pendant designs were generally under consideration for large public buildings, and hung from this height Aalto and his staff could appreciate their appearance from a distance.
Like fishing lines dangling off a pier, in Aalto's expansive office various lighting experiments hang from a small mezzanine. The pendant designs were generally under consideration for large public buildings, and hung from this height Aalto and his staff could appreciate their appearance from a distance.
Standard Light A809, a floor lamp in the living area, features three ringed cones.
Standard Light A809, a floor lamp in the living area, features three ringed cones.
One of the few lights in Aalto's home not designed by the architect is this folded paper lamp that graces the living room piano. It was given to Aalto by Danish designer Poul Henningsen during World War II. At the time Henningson was living in Sweden and didn't have access to his metalshop so he experimented in available materials like paper or cloth.
One of the few lights in Aalto's home not designed by the architect is this folded paper lamp that graces the living room piano. It was given to Aalto by Danish designer Poul Henningsen during World War II. At the time Henningson was living in Sweden and didn't have access to his metalshop so he experimented in available materials like paper or cloth.

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