Scandinavia Design
Artek, Finnish Design Furniture & Lighting
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DOMUS Chair 

Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946

The award-winning Domus Chair was designed in 1946 by Finnish designer and interior architect Ilmari Tapiovaara for the student housing complex Domus Academia in Helsinki. The original chair was made in wood – the only available material in post-war Finland – and intented for reading and general use. 

By combining solid wood and form-pressed plywood, Tapiovaara created a chair that conformed to the body in a new and highly comfortable way. The characteristic short armrests of the Domus Chair offer a surprising degree of support, while simultaneously allowing the chair to be pulled close to a table.

The Domus Chair was initially delivered from the factory in pieces for the retailer or end customer to assemble, which explain the visible screws in Tapiovaara's original design. The lightweight, stackable, and multi-purpose Domus quickly gained success in Finland and abroad. Its international recognition eventually made Domus the first successful post-war design export from Finland. Sold in the United States as the "Finnchair", its popularity led to numerous awards, such as the American Good Design Award, which Tapiovaara received in Chicago in 1950 and the Gold medal at the Milan Triennale in 1951.       

Stackable until 4.

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946

Materials Seat and backrest in plywood. Base and armrests in solid wood. The chair can be fully or half upholstered with leather or fabric.

Dimensions L58 x P54 x H79 cm – Seat height 44,5 cm – Armrest height 66 cm

Domus Chair, unupholstered

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946

Domus Chair – Natural lacquered birch

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946

Domus Chair – Honey stained birch

Domus Chair Walnut stained birch

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946

Domus Chair – White

Domus Chair – Black

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946

Domus Chair – Natural lacquered oak

upholstered Domus Chairs

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946 – upholstered Domus Chairs

Upholstered Seat
from :

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946 – upholstered Domus Chairs

Upholstered Seat & Backrest
from :

Free samples (against deposit)

▸ Fabrics & Leathers
▸ Fabrics & Leathers
▸ Fabrics & Leathers
▸ Fabrics & Leathers
▸ Fabrics & Leathers
▸ Fabrics & Leathers
▸ Fabrics & Leathers
▸ Fabrics & Leathers
▸ Fabrics & Leathers

Fabrics & Leathers

examples

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946

natural lacquered birch
+ cuir Sörensen Prestige noir
(groupe de prix A)

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946

natural lacquered birch
+ white Sörensen Prestige leather
(price group A)

bouleau peint en blanc
+ white Sörensen Prestige leather
(price group A)

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946

natural lacquered oak
+ white Sörensen Prestige leather
(price group A)

natural lacquered oak
+ beige Sörensen Prestige leather
(price group A)

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946

black lacquered birch
+ black Sörensen Prestige leather
(price group A)

black lacquered birch
+ black fabric

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946

honey stained birch
+ black Sörensen Prestige leather
(price group A)

honey stained birch
+ green Sörensen Prestige leather
(price group A)

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946

white lacquered birch
+ green Sörensen Prestige leather
(price group A)

white lacquered birch
+ black Sörensen Prestige leather
(price group A)

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946

white lacquered birch
+ grey fabric

DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946
DOMUS Chair  Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946

Ilmari Tapiovaara

Ilmari Tapiovaara
Ilmari Tapiovaara

Ilmari Tapiovaara (1914-1999) is an important step in the development of Scandinavian design during the 20th century. After working with Alvar Aalto in London and Le Corbusier in Paris, he had Eero Aarnio and Yjrö Kukkapuro as assistants. One of his main focuses was the search of the optimal multi-purpose chair, like the Domus chair (or Finn) he drew for the student residence Domus Academica in Helsinki, which was used as office, conference and meals chair, while being stackable. From 1951 to 1960, Ilmari Tapiovaara received no less than 6 gold medals at the Triennale in Milan, more than any other designer.

His furniture is now produced by Artek, which gives it an new international visibility.