Artek Celebrates 90th Anniversary by Reintroducing Gems from the Archive

As part of Artek’s 90th anniversary in 2025, the iconic brand is reintroducing a selection of designs to honour its co-founders Aino and Alvar Aalto. These beloved pieces from the archive — both festive form and function — have been out of production for decades and are now returning to the Artek collection as limited anniversary editions or standard products.

Gems from the Archive includes Screen 100 in a wider range of heights to accommodate modern living, the return of Cabinet 250 to Artek’s standard collection, and two special limited editions of Stool X602 featuring the “X-leg”— one of Alvar Aalto’s most significant later innovations.

Screen 100 is the most architectural of Alvar Aalto’s designs — a room divider with a soft, undulating form inspired by the organic wave motif seen in many Aalto buildings. Now available in four heights — 100, 130, 150, and 180 cm — Screen 100 meets the needs of contemporary interiors, bringing both structure and sculptural elegance to a variety of spaces.

Beyond dividing rooms, Screen 100 can shield or conceal areas, create an inviting backdrop for seating, serve as an informal coat stand, or even provide an elegant, easy-to-install background for video calls — reflecting the evolving needs of the home.

Light and well-proportioned, the screen can be rolled up for storage and shaped to suit the space. It is crafted from Finnish pinewood, rather than the birchwood typically associated with Aalto furniture. Pine is a soft wood that grows throughout Finland, with a bold character that deepens into a rich patina as it ages gracefully.

Often referred to as the “cocktail cabinet,” Cabinet 250 rejoins the standard Artek collection following the success of a limited edition from the Artek + Moomin collection earlier in 2025. Simple in form and celebratory in function, its understated beauty makes it a stand-alone centrepiece for living and dining spaces, perfect for housing special tableware and refreshments.

While Cabinet 250 is credited to Alvar Aalto because of its L-leg, archival documents reveal that Aino Aalto first attached a cabinet body to this design. Its compact size and well-proportioned interior make it a practical storage unit for everyday items such as bed linen and clothing, reflecting Aino’s belief that no object or function is undeserving of aesthetic beauty.

Two special limited editions of Stool X602 celebrate ninety years of Artek, highlighting one of Alvar Aalto’s most refined innovations: the fan-shaped “X-leg.” First presented at the 1954 Konstruktiv Form exhibition at Stockholm’s Nordiska Kompaniet, the X-leg is a sculptural evolution of Aalto’s iconic L-leg. The hexagonal seat features a “curly birch” veneer applied with marquetry—a rare Finnish silver birch with wavy, irregular rings that create a fiery, richly textured pattern.

The stool is offered in two models: one fully honey-stained, the other with a honey-stained seat and natural lacquered legs, emphasizing the X-leg’s sculptural form. Each model is limited to ninety individually numbered pieces, making them unique collector’s items.

All pieces are crafted in Finland and will be available from 15 October 2025.

Photography by Joachim Wichmann, © Artek

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New and Noted

There's a lot of design news at the start of the year, so I’ve rounded up some standouts. Stockholm Design Week is back after a long Covid break, there are many newly released furniture, lighting, and homeware collections from Denmark, and an incredible pop-up hotel in Italy to check out…

Stockholm Furniture Fair 2023

After three years, Stockholm Furniture Fair returned last week, delivering plenty of fresh inspiration. A standout exhibition, Älvsjö gård is a new platform for experimental, research-driven, and collectable design in one of Stockholm's oldest manors. The exhibition, spread across 13 rooms set over two floors, featured the work of galleries and independent studios including Tableu from Denmark, Pyton Gallery and Kiosken from Norway and Stockholm Modern, Coulisse Gallery and Veermakers from Sweden. The artist Fredrik Nielsen showcased the installation Mixed Emotions, as shown at the Loewe exhibition in 2022, and the New Narratives exhibition shown below was curated by the fair’s project manager, Hanna Nova Beatrice.

Photography: Jean-Baptiste Beranger

Spring 2023 News from Linie Design

Linie Design is a Danish company that sells handmade rugs in over 70 countries. Combining Nordic design traditions with unique craftsmanship, all rugs are designed by Scandinavian designers and handmade by master artisans in India. They maintain a modern Nordic look in their designs but constantly modify and redefine them to create unexpected expressions and textures. Here is a look at some of my picks from their Spring 2023 collection.

Contrasting bouclé lines create a stunning geometrical effect in Lineal Poem, whilst the tonal palette brings a sense of visual balance and depth. Handcrafted from durable wool, known for its superior softness and warmth, the rug’s quiet poetic presence adds timeless elegance to any interior space.

Lineal Sweep uses changes in height pile and positive and negative contrasts in structure to create a dynamic interplay of curved lines. The meandering rounded forms combined with the deep pile offer visual and tactile appeal, drawing in the eye and inviting touch. The soft, deep pile is made of wool, offering underfoot comfort, warmth, and superior durability.⁠ Designed by Urd Moll Gundermann.

A study in tranquillity, Soft Savannah uses a solid colour in an elegant, neutral tone to create an expanse of uncluttered beauty. Skilfully hand-knotted in pure wool, the short pile offers warmth underfoot and softness to its surroundings for many years to come.

Designed by Urd Moll Gundermann, Cursive Expanse sees a meandering line in contrasting pile length forming a subtle pattern on a neutral background. With an appealing textural and visual effect, this design provides an elegant base for any room. Crafted in pure wool with a GOTS-certified cotton warp, this reinforces the natural, organic expression and ensures superior durability. 

A masterpiece of subtlety, Halo Cloud's clean, minimalistic expression is perfectly framed by the bouclé ends, which add a whisper of visual and textural contrast to the rug's uncluttered aesthetics. Hand-crafted in soft and durable wool with a GOTS-certified cotton warp, Halo Cloud combines the warmth and beauty of wool with cotton yarn to create a classic and elegant floor covering.

Vipp Palazzo Monti Pop-Up Hotel

Vipp has transformed a 13th-century Italian palazzo in Brescia into a pop-up hotel experience, fusing Scandinavian minimalism with Baroque maximalism. The palazzo, which has hosted more than 200 artists in residence since 2017, will be the seventh entry in Vipp's guesthouse portfolio. The Vipp Palazzo Monti, which will open on April 18, 2023, will feature a contemporary suite with minimalist furniture and lighting collections against a backdrop of ornamented décor and art pieces. Danish interior designer Julie Cloos Mølsgaard has realised both the rooms as well as the combined kitchen and dining area occupying the ground floor.

The guesthouse will occupy the first floor, consisting of three consecutive rooms: a hallway, a salon, and a bedroom with an adjacent walk-in and bathroom. Meanwhile, the ground floor will feature a modular V1 kitchen island from Vipp in matte black, taking centre stage in a curious dialogue between contemporary industrial design under a loft of historic Venetian frescoes and over a tiled floor of locally crafted jade tiles. The overall experience of entering the opulent gates of the palazzo is like stepping into an old masters painting. The Vipp Palazzo Monti will be unveiled at the Salone del Mobile, the world's epicentre of design, in April 2023.

Photography: Irina Boersma César Machado

Norm Architects x Malte Gormsen

Norm Architects and Malte Gormsen have collaborated to create a collection of bespoke furniture pieces that reflect their shared belief in tradition, form, and materials. The Malte Gormsen Kollektion emphasizes Norm's soft minimal approach to design and their expertise in craftsmanship. The collection is inspired by a Scandinavian aesthetic rooted in Danish rural culture and references to the centuries-old wood tradition. The pieces are intended to be relevant in their look, shape, function, and quality for generations to come.

Malte Gormsen is known for its fine cabinetmaking craftsmanship and an approach to wood as a living thing rooted in methods used in Ancient Egypt combined with modern technology. The collaboration with Norm Architects aims to create designs that stand alone as sculptures, drawing people to investigate and immerse themselves in the pieces. The collection includes the sculptural wooden MG210 dining table, the decorative and functional MG406 side table/stool, the bronzed brass and leather-clad MG305 credenza, the low tabletop MG211 coffee table, and the large MG407 sculpture available in steel, brass, and copper.

The Malte Gormsen Kollektion pieces are designed with the utmost consideration and respect for the material, adding warmth and homeliness within any interior. The collection represents an everlasting search for improvement and a little twist on the same, emphasizing the importance of craftsmanship, quality, and materials. Overall, the collaboration between Norm Architects and Malte Gormsen offers a collection of timeless furniture pieces that reflect their shared approach to design and architecture.

Spring News from 101 Copenhagen

Danish brand 101 Copenhagen has introduced a range of graphic ceramic table lamps. My favourite is Fungus, which features a mushroom-shaped design that provides a distinctive and eye-catching illumination. Inspired by 70's design, and made entirely from ceramic, with the exception of the metal frame, Fungus emphasizes the natural beauty of its material, highlighting the tactile and textured surface. The Fungus Table Lamp was designed by Kristian Sofus Hansen and Tommy Hyldahl, who have expertly blended modern design with natural elements to create this unique and elegant piece.

Sphere Shisen is the latest addition to 101 Copenhagen’s iconic Sphere series of vases. Its intricate texture is created by small circles, reflecting its name's meaning, "mesh" or "way of seeing things" in Japanese. This design evokes delicacy and refinement, and will no doubt add a touch of elegance and beauty to any living space.

101 Copenhagen also recently launched TRIBU, a unique, architectural furniture collection. The collection features a bench and a stool with an enduring fibre concrete base. Paired with linen cushions, the pieces provide an elegant and comfortable place to sit and relax. 

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Nordiska Kök & Caroline Sandström Unveil Modern Minimalist Kitchen

Together with Swedish interior designer Caroline Sandström, Nordiska Kök introduces a stunning kitchen collection that embodies the essence of modern minimalism through its carefully curated details and organic shapes.

Minimalist, linear cabinets create a calm and unified appearance that is synonymous with Scandinavian design. The rounded cabinet softens the sharp lines, lending a dynamic silhouette to the kitchen.

The striking marble adds a touch of drama and sophistication to the kitchen. Appliances are expertly concealed behind cabinets and cupboards, resulting in a cohesive look that blends smoothly with the rest of the minimalist home and its surroundings.

A contemporary yet timeless kitchen that meets all the demands of a modern lifestyle without compromising on design or quality. The minimalist kitchen collection is available in all colours and will be available from February 2023 as part of Nordiska Kök's regular kitchen range.

Photograhy: Kristofer Johnsson

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