Artek - Rope black chair

More like a silhouette than a solid block, the Rope Chair is a line drawing translated into three dimensions, a simple artistic gesture rendered in space. Designed by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, the chair is a synthesis of contrasts: sophisticated engineering and creative expression, solid structure and flexible elements, stiff tubes and pliable rope. Made for marine use, the rope is at the heart of the chair’s unexpected comfort; a weight-bearing part of the construction, it allows the chair to adapt to those who use it. Where other chairs dictate a specific way of sitting, the Rope Chair invites creativity in posture, encouraging dynamic movement and changes in position. When the sitter rises, the chair’s frame bears the traces of the body it last supported, the imprint of a user who co-defines its shape.

Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec

Formal perfection, clear lines and creative freedom. These are the watchwords in the designs of French brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. They were born respectively in 1971 and 1976, they both graduated in Art and founded their own studio at the end of the 90s. After being noticed by Giulio Cappellini and receiving their first industrial design commissions, they went on to impose themselves on the international scene thanks to a fruitful collaboration with Vitra. Among their customers, the most important international design brands are Ligne Roset, Flos, Magis and Mattiazzi. From furniture to accessories via architectural projects, Bouroullec's combine essential forms with innovative materials and nature-friendly techniques. These characteristics allowed them to win the 2016 Wallpaper* Design Award 2016 as "Best Designers of the Year."

Artek

Artek was founded in Helsinki in 1935 by four young idealists: Alvar and Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl. Their goal was "to sell furniture and to promote a modern culture of living through exhibitions and other educational means. "In line with the radical spirit of its founders, today it remains an avant-garde character in the world of modern design, developing new products by joining design, architecture and art. The collection consists of furniture, lighting and accessories designed by Finnish masters and international designers. It stands for clarity, functionality and poetic simplicity. The name Artek is a synthesis of "art" and "technology", such as central concepts for the international modernist movement that came to prominence in the 1920s. From the beginning, the mission was to achieve a great synthesis of the arts, eroding the boundaries between fine arts, architecture and design. Artek’s manifesto outlines the vision of the four founders of the company. With titles such as Modern Art, Industry and Interior Design, Propaganda, the manifesto clarifies the company’s goals: to achieve a synthesis of the arts, to improve everyday life and to bring modernism to Finland - while spreading Alvar Aalto's Nordic interpretation of these principles to the world. Artek furniture is made in line with the original vision of Alvar Aalto to combine modern production methods with skillful craftsmanship and carefully selected materials. Regional supply and security are always priorities for both Artek and its partners, ensuring ethical production and lasting quality.