Artek at the Milan Design Week 2009

22-27 April 2009

One chair is enough

The catchword for the future of design is intelligent consumption. As the current economic situation pushes consumers towards more conscious choices, rational thinking and sustainable values will become vitally important and relevant.

In the spirit of its radical founders, Artek invests in materials research and engineering, in the development of systems and standards, and in long-lasting design.

10-UNIT SYSTEM, designed by Shigeru Ban for Artek
(photo by Aino Huovio)

10-UNIT SYSTEM by Shigeru Ban

Designed by Shigeru Ban, the 10-UNIT SYSTEM is a novel furniture concept that will be launched in Milan in April 2009. The fully modular system is based on L-shaped units that can be combined in all sorts of ways to make furniture – a chair, a table, a bench. Putting furniture together and disassembling it is made easy by the ingenious yet simple design. The standard colours of the 10-UNIT SYSTEM are black and white; other colours are available on request.

10-UNIT SYSTEM, designed by Shigeru Ban for Artek
(photo by Aino Huovio)

Sustainable material innovation

The highly ecological and ethical 10-UNIT SYSTEM is made from UPM ProFi, an environmentally innovative wood plastic composite. Its principal raw materials are recycled paper and plastic. The composite has proved to be tough and humidity resistant. It is an environmentally sustainable material that can be disposed of by incineration, or recycled back into the production process. All materials in the composite are non-toxic.

10-UNIT SYSTEM, designed by Shigeru Ban for Artek
(photo by Aino Huovio)

Continuity of a successful co-operation

Artek, Shigeru Ban and UPM continue their collaboration from earlier years. "Space of Silence", the Artek Pavilion designed by Shigeru Ban for the Milan Triennale Garden in spring 2007, was built from the UPM ProFi wood plastic composite. The pavilion was based on a structural unit that was repeated multiple times to form an elongated exhibition space. The Artek Pavilion was extraordinary proof of the efficiency of systems thinking and repetition, distinctive of Ban’s architecture and design. The pavilion was sold at Sotheby’s sale of Important 20th Century Design in 2008.

Shigeru Ban (photo by Romain Sellier)

Artek is renowned as being one of the most innovative contributors to modern design, building on the design heritage of Alvar Aalto. The high standard and long life of its products attest to Artek's ideology of environmental responsibility and sustainable development.

Artek/One Chair is enough
Salone Internazionale del Mobile Milan 2009
Milan Fairgrounds, Rho
Hall 12 / Booth C14

Read more:
Interview with Mirkku Kullberg, CEO of Artek
Proventus' engagement in Artek
Alvar Aalto through the eyes of Shigeru Ban
The launch of the Bambu collection