Armchair 42 ‘Small Paimio’ designed by Alvar Aalto
Finland, 1930s
Bent birch and lacquered plywood.The Armchair 42, often referred to as the ‘Small Paimio’, earns its nickname due to its close association with the more famous Paimio Chair (Armchair 41), which Alvar Aalto designed for the Paimio Sanatorium in the early 1930s. Aalto designed the sanatorium itself, with a focus on creating a therapeutic environment, and the furniture was an integral part of this vision. The armchair was intended to support the wellbeing of tuberculosis patients, with its gentle recline aiding easier breathing.
While both chairs share similar design principles—lightweight bent birch frames, flowing organic lines, and a focus on comfort—the Armchair 42 is more compact in size and upright in posture compared to the larger, more reclined Paimio Chair.
The original Paimio Chair was specifically designed to aid tuberculosis patients in breathing more easily while reclining. The ‘Small Paimio’ retains Aalto’s signature aesthetic but is adapted for a more versatile, everyday use, with less of a focus on medical functionality. Its proportions are slimmer, and it sits more upright, making it suitable for different environments beyond the sanatorium.
Alvar Aalto (1898–1976) was a Finnish architect and designer, renowned for his human-centred approach to modernism. His work spans architecture, furniture, textiles, and glassware, characterised by organic forms, natural materials, and a deep sensitivity to the surrounding environment.
H: 54 cm / 1' 9 1/4"
W: 51 cm / 1' 8 1/16"
D: 45 cm / 1' 5 3/4"
Price: on application
