Aluminium Furniture Showcased at Design Hotel

Students of Interior Architecture and Furniture Design at Aalto University have examined ways in which lightweight, durable aluminium can be used in furniture design. Aluminium is an almost fully recyclable, corrosion resistant material, which makes it appealing from the viewpoint of sustainable development.

An exhibition presenting the prototypes of 14 pieces of aluminium furniture will open at design hotel Klaus K on 23 November 2011. The exhibition showcases a range of interpretations in using aluminium for the purposes of lighting, seating and storage. Supervised by renowned designers Timo Sairi and Heikki Ruoko, each BA student explored the material from their own perspective.

The raw material has been utilised diversely

The furniture prototypes display aluminium’s lightweight quality, corrosion resistance, designability, and thermal and electrical conductivity in a range of ways. The material has been bent, welded and mechanically joined.

Some of the pieces are designed for indoor and some for outdoor use, while others are suitable for both. Usability, durability and aesthetics have served as the stating points for each design.

The furniture is insightful and even playful; the Kurki (‘Crane’) table lamp by Kalle Järvenpää is woken up by lifting its head, while Sara Kokko has reinvented traditional Finnish birch bark baskets into contemporary storage furniture.

All 14 pieces are displayed for just five days until 27 November 2011 at design hotel Klaus K, Bulevardi 2-4. The exhibition is open to everyone.

Meet the Furniture Designers

The students who designed the furniture will be present at the opening of the exhibition on Wednesday 23 November at 6 pm - 8 pm. Entrance to the event is free of charge.