Artek Aalto bench 153B, wild birch

Artek’s Bench 153A, the smaller version of the design, is a classic creation by Alvar Aalto from 1945. Even though it dates back decades ago, the slatted bench still continues to charm with its simple and streamlined elegance, based on the airy seat that rests on Aalto’s signature design, the L-legs. The stylish Aalto 153 benches are a great addition to a dining room or any hallway, bedroom or dressing room – and they can also be used as a distinctive side table or a coffee table.

Aalto bench 153B celebrates the authentic beauty of birch wood: this bench is made of so-called wild birch that shows the material’s natural variation in its entirety. By using “wild birch”, Artek wishes to challenge our expectations of visual uniformity in natural materials and to spark conversation about the need for a new, more sustainable esthetic. Due to climate change, Finnish wood nowadays has more color variations than before, as well as marks left by insects previously unseen in Finnish forests. These marks or knots do not affect the durability or usability of the wood but are only esthetic limitations.