Artek - Rival Chair 
Artek- Rival Chair; Konstantin Grcic’s Rival Chair represents a new approach to the wooden chair. While its arms and backrest are made of form-pressed birch lamella, its legs are milled from a single piece of solid birch, taking on a fluid quality more similar to moulded plastic than timber. Rival is Artek’s first chair with a swivel function; the upholstered seat, available in a choice of textiles and colours, conceals a clever aluminium “knot” that rests in a polypropylene “socket,” allowing a circular movement. The graceful lines of the Rival Chair mean it swivels effortlessly from office to dining table.
Konstantin Grcic
Konstantin Grcic defines function in human terms, combining formal strictness with remarkable ingenuity and humor. Each of his products is characterized by careful research into the history of design and architecture and his passion for technology and materials. Known for pared-down pieces, Grcic is often called a minimalist but the designer himself prefers to speak of simplicity. The KGID studio is located in the center of Munich, in southern Germany, where 6 product designers and 1 personal assistant work. The studio specializes in several fields of design, ranging from furniture design to commissioned works such as architectural projects.The languages of communication are German, English, French, Italian and Spanish
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.
