Artek forest collection group landscape SRGB

Forest Collection

Designer: Alvar Aalto

Year: 1933-45

The Forest Collection is the result of a collaboration between Artek and design studio Formafantasma that sought to encourage wider, wilder and more responsible uses of wood. The collection introduces a new wood selection called “wild birch” that proudly displays the natural variations that occur in birch wood—such as knots, insect trails and colour fluctuations.

The intention behind the collection is not only to improve material selection processes in a manner that benefits the Finnish forest, but also to celebrate the beauty of imperfection found in natural materials. Some of the most-loved Artek products, including Stool 60, Chair 66, Chair 69 and a selection of Aalto Tables and Benches, have been selected for the Forest Collection to ensure the greatest positive impact.

The wild birch variant is available for the following products

Designer: Alvar Aalto

Year: 1933-45

Artek Forest Collection In-Situ Table 83 wild birch L-leg detail
Each product displays the marks that appear during the tree's natural life.
Artek Forest Collection In-Situ Chair 69 wild birch
Natural variations can be knots, insect trails or colour fluctuations
Artek_Making of Stool 60_Villi
Formafantasma Cambio on Finnish forestry 6

Ecological Shifts, Artek and Formafantasma

Read the story

Independent design curator, writer and historian Libby Sellers’ essay on the collaboration between Artek and Formafantasma delves into the honest beauty and critical narrative of the Finnish forest.