NOGA Journal – An exclusive edition from Artek

Artek Curly Birch Exclusive Edition is made in a close collaboration between Nordiska Galleriet (NOGA) and Artek and includes four classical Alvar Aalto pieces made of curly birch. To celebrate the launch of our exclusive Artek edition in curly birch, we visit the Finnish Embassy in Stockholm, nicknamed the “Finnish castle.”

Editorial Splash 1 | Artek för Nordiska Galleriet

The Artek Curly Birch Exclusive edition consists of a bench, stool, sofa table and dining table made of a variant of birch, which mostly is found in Finland's easternmost Karelia region. The rarity of the Karelian curly birch makes each piece one of a kind, showcasing each tree's particular grain pattern. To celebrate this edition, exclusively made for NO GA, we photographed it at the Finnish Embassy in Stockholm.

Editorial Splash 2 | Artek för Nordiska Galleriet

Editorial Splash 3 | Artek för Nordiska Galleriet

Nicknamed the “Finnish castle” due to its castle-like exterior facing the street, the embassy features a number of interconnected buildings of different heights and a large paved courtyard. It is designed by the architect Kristian Gullichsen, and was inaugurated in 2001. Gullichsen idea was to create the first “Finnish castle” on Swedish ground, in recognition of the countries shared past and the many castles that Sweden had built.

The interior is dominated by white surfaces and large windows, creating a sense of space and transparency. The floors are made of maplewood and Carrara marble, with contrasting doors, ceiling and window frames in Oregon pine.

Editorial Splash 4 | Artek för Nordiska Galleriet

Editorial Splash 5 | Artek för Nordiska Galleriet

All the furniture is designed by Nordic designers, with a majority being Finnish, and pieces by Alvar Aalto take centre stage. His famous stool has been in continuous production since 1933, and was the first piece of his designs to feature the L-leg, which became a standard in his furniture design.

Editorial Splash 6 | Artek för Nordiska Galleriet

Editorial Splash 7 | Artek för Nordiska Galleriet

The development of the L-leg was revolutionary because it solved the problem of attaching legs directly to a top in a completely new way – the leg could be fastened with screws directly to the top, and the result was a simple but very solid structure. Aalto considered the development of the L-leg his greatest achievement – he even called the L-leg "the little sister of the architectonic column".

Editorial Splash 8 | Artek för Nordiska Galleriet

Editorial Splash 9 | Artek för Nordiska Galleriet

The Artek exclusive series for Nordiska Galleriet (NOGA) includes a stool, bench, sofa table and desk, which also functions as a dining table for smaller spaces. The curly birch wood grain gives each item a soft pattern, perfectly fitting in at the “Finnish castle.”