Aalto Serving Cart – Alvar Aalto 1936
Modern Furniture Profile
Alvar Aalto’s first attempt at a serving cart was for the Paimio Sanitorium in 1933. It was a double tiered wooden trolley, quieter to move around the wards than the traditional hospital cart. It was used for daily medicine dispensing.
It’s structure was a continuous loop of two dimensionally molded laminated Birch timber. The frame then carried two serving shelves. There were two wheels at the front and the frame formed sled feet at the back.
To move the cart you had to lift it from the back. The sled feet and wheels had a slim rubber capping to reduce noise in the hospital. The wheels were fun as they were colored in red, white, blue, yellow or black lacquer. The shelves had black or white linoleum to the top which also helped deaden the noise.
The 1936 cart design was similar to the Paimio design, but altered to suit residential purposes. It only had one shelf but had the addition of a willow basket to carry tall items that may fall over when the cart was pushed. It worked better as the removal of one shelf meant walking behind the cart became easier.
This cart used more materials, the willow basket, glossy lacquer wheels, ceramic tiles to the shelf’s top and timber for the frame.
This cart showed Aalto’s ability to tackle unusual requests for furniture design and complete them successfully.
About the Designer Learn more about how Alvar Aalto helped define the world of modern furniture today.
Further Resources on the Designer – Web sites and books
More Alvar Aalto Furniture Profiles Here
Viipuri Stacking Stools – Alvar Aalto
Simple and clever in design these three legged stools are versatile and functional, the stack ability means that they are ideal for large gathering areas with small storage spaces.
Steam bent timber cantilevered timber frame with a woven cotton interlaced webbing to form the seat and backing.
Two dimensional molded plywood and laminated timber chair.
Cantilevered Chair no 31 – Alvar Aalto
Continuous cantilevered frame, this chair was made from laminated steam bend Birch timber.
