Stockholm 2019 – Artek presents Atelier Chair, a wooden minimalist seat by TAF Studio which was originally designed for the new restaurant of the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, and derives its name from the location for which it was designed: an artist’s  atelier.

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Nationalmuseum is Sweden’s museum for art and design. Inaugurated in 1866, it went under renovation in 2013 and reopened in November 2018. The collaboration between TAF Studio and Artek was born from a museum initiative which promoted artistic collaboration between designers and producers to re-imagine its public areas – about 2.300 square metres were added to the existing space.

TAF Studio was one of the selected designers. Founded in 2002 by Gabriella Gustafson and Mattias Ståhlbom, the practice chose to work with Artek drawing on the company’s expertise with wood, and long history of producing iconic designs with a high level of craftsmanship.

The compact and versatile chair is an homage to Nordic design: slender proportions and geometric lines combine with simple yet elegant details, such as the connecting bars which hug the front legs, to create an informai  aesthetic.

Atellier Chair is almost weightless, only 4 Kg, and it stacks very well. An easy to move and  practical solution for public spaces, such as the museum’s restaurant and auditorium, but also at home or in the office. 

The design references an early-20th century chair by acclaimed Swedish architect Sven Markelius, which in turn was an homage to Alvar Aalto’s Chair 61 1. Atellier Chair is composed of solid wood in natural lacquered oak, ash and beech. In keeping with Artek’s sustainable values, locally-sourced species of wood are used. The seat comes in black, green and dark red.

All images: courtesy of Artek.