The Olivia Chair

A graceful chair that keeps lightness, sturdiness and comfort in an elegant balance.

Designed by Tatu Laakso during his master studies at the prestigious Aalto University of Art, Design and Architecture in Helsinki, Finland, the Olivia Chair pays homage to the design heritage of Alvar Aalto while exploring the expressiveness of contemporary, curvaceous forms. The design also finds the perfect balance between slenderness, sturdiness and comfort.

“We had Aalto furniture in school, in libraries, I encountered it in almost every kind of public settings when I grew up,” says Tau Laakso. “Always nice to use and to behold. You took it for granted and didn’t even recognize it as good design when you were a child,” he adds.

After winning the third prize in the Pure Talents Contest 2021 at IMM Cologne, Olivia was included by Design House Stockholm in its furniture collection that represents the best of Scandinavian and Nordic design. Elegant and graceful, the chair also showcases the high level of craftsmanship of Nordic furniture. Made from wood with bent plywood parts, Olivia changes appearance depending on the viewing angle.

The choice of using wood for Olivia came naturally, as Tatu Laakso favors using natural materials in his work. Crafted with a blend of solid oak, form-pressed oak and rubber wood veneer, the design celebrates the beauty and versatility of wood in its different forms and finishes.

“I believe that wood is important because it has fantastic structural, tactile, environmental, and many other good qualities. It is also a material that you need practical experience to master and use wisely. Woodworking is also a culture and tradition that I have been brought up in, “

Giving a nod to Finland’s wood crafting traditions, Olivia features a thin sheet of bent plywood that creates the rounded backrest as well as the back legs. Slightly thicker, the legs add a stable base to the seat. Designed with a large opening, the backrest allows the user to rest on their back muscles rather than the spine for long-lasting comfort.

The chair features bent plywood sections, brought together in a design of sartorial inspiration. As the designer explains, “I aimed to have Olivia well-tailored like a nice dress, timeless and comfortable to sit on. A chair that does not shout for attention but grows on you the longer you look at it.”

Introduced during Stockholm Design Week 2024, the chair made its debut at the Ray Atelier-curated Expressions exhibition. Design House Stockholm offers the Olivia Chair in five versions: Oak, Light Oak, Dark Oak, Red, and Black. All five feature a lacquered finish that protects the surface of the wood. Photography © Design House Stockholm.