In our interview with Michel Charlot about his lamp U-Turn for Belux he told us that “I like it when people look at an object and find it “normal”, but that is something which is quite difficult to achieve….”

Such an object is without question Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto.

As so to help explain the complexity hidden in the simplicity, and celebrate the object’s 80th anniversary, the Ungers Archiv für Architekturwissenschaft are staging an exhibition during IMM Cologne 2013 devoted to this classic of early 20th century furniture design.

Organised by the Alvar Aalto Museo, Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto at Ungers Archiv für Architekturwissenschaft is not an extensive exhibition. But then it does solely concentrate on one, formally relatively simple, object.

But what it does offer is fantastic depth. In the course of the presented objects and clearly written texts the exhibition explains the background to Alvar Aalto’s forays into furniture design, the nature of the cooperation with the carpenter Otto Korhonen, technical aspects of the wood bending processes Aalto and Korhonen developed, the production process of Stool 60, etc, etc

And it is this depth that makes it so enjoyable. And rewarding.

After viewing this exhibition we guarantee you will understand just what a high quality, technical masterpiece and genuinely innovative design object the “Oh so simple!” looking three legged birch stool really is.

In addition a number of books on Alvar Aalto are available for all who either want to learn more about his complete canon in general or more specifically to place Stool 60 in, for example, the context of his other furniture or inter-war architecture.

All in all we can thoroughly recommend Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto at Ungers Archiv für Architekturwissenschaft and hope that it will soon be displayed elsewhere, because, much like its subject, it is a very well conceived and executed piece of work.

And if you are planning going, and if you are in large group do ask the Archiv in advance about a guided tour of Oswald Mathias Ungers library and house.

Such is only available with advance booking, but is worth it.

Not only do you get rare insight into the methodology and philosophy of one of Germany’s most important 20th century architects and architectural theorists, but in the context of the library you also get to experience one of the most comprehensive and enchanting private architecture libraries you’re likely to come across.

Indeed, given the number of architectural tours organised during IMM, it’s strange that they don’t offer visiting architects and journalists the chance to view the Oswald Mathias Ungers Archiv.

Might be something worth considering for next year….

Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto can be viewed at Ungers Archiv für Architekturwissenschaft, Belvederestraße 60 D-50933 Cologne until Sunday January 20th 2013

A few impressions.

Much like those who doubted that the Stone Roses would ever get back together; there are also those who doubt we will ever make it to a Depot Basel show.

Until now it was the case that the shows inevitably fell at periods when we were otherwise engaged. And the opening of Depot Basel No. 5 on March 23rd was no different.

However, this time we’re hopeful we can make it, because the show runs until May 5th.

Longer than usual, but then they are also showing more than usual.

The “main” exhibition concerns itself with seating, specifically with Enzo Mari’s D.I.Y. chair as popularised by his 1974 book “Autoprogettazione”

For Depot Basel No. 5 the Swiss designers Christian Horisberger and Sibylle Stoeckli have created contemporary interpretations of the “Autoprogettazione” classic. Created albeit by following Mari’s 1974 rules.

Not only are the results of their experimentation on display, but visitors can take a copy of the designer’s plans with them and so re-create the works themselves at home.

What amuses us in this context is when we met Enzo Mari in Berlin last summer we took the opportunity to ask him if, given projects such as “Autoprogettazione”, he was an advocate of Open Design.

He isn’t.

Maybe the Depot Basel project can win him over. We hope he drops by.

Enzo Mari's 1974 "Autoprogettazione" Chair

In addition to “Seats” Depot Basel No 5 is also showing results from the past three years of the “Take a Seat” project by Zurich design studio Aekae. Having been commissioned to redesign the cafe “Z am Park” Aekae also initiated a sort of revolving design-competition-sale-gallery-thingy. Every six months or so they send five designers four copies of perhaps the original Swiss cafe chair, the 1-380 from Horgenglarus to re-interpret and re-model.

The re-worked chairs are then used for three months in the cafe before being auctioned off.

A wonderful idea which not only creates a whole new sub-genre of gallery platform, but also is an interesting and innovative way to build up a discourse between the cafe and its guests.

Studio ZMIK's contribution to "Take a Seat". A "grown-up" bar version of the Horgenglarus 1-380 (Photo Sandra Kennel)

For us the fascinating aspect of Depot Basel 5 is that it offers visitors the opportunity to question the chair.

At the opening of “Stühle ohne Beine” Bauhaus Archive Berlin director Annemarie Jaeggi spoke passionately about the social and cultural importance of the chair and how no consumer item better reflects our current society than the chair.

Is that still he case ? Or was the once the case ?

Certainly, for designers chairs offer the perfect platform on which to experiment, because, at least in our western world, everyone uses chairs.

As such chairs are a cultural medium we can all understand and so are probably the only consumer item that is guaranteed to generate some form of response is us all.

We can’t all relate to the latest smartphone, car or digital camera. We all understand the chair.

But do we buy chairs because the material or form language speaks to some aspect our lives ? Or do we consume because of the advertising ?

Every year someone asks in a  pre-Milan text if we really need so many new chairs.

Maybe its about time more consumers asked what they want in their chairs.

Which of course is no more than Enzo Mari was up to in the early 1970s.

Using the chair as a symbol of his personal dissatisfaction with the state of the furniture industry and so through the chair challenging us all to take more initiative and responsibility for our consumption patterns.

Admittedly he has somewhat undone the good work by selling the license to Artek. But then even an Enzo Mari has to eat and pay bills.

As we say, unlike the impossible seeming Roses reunion, we’ve not made it to Depot Basel 5. Yet. But we will. And then we’ll bring you pictures and our impressions.

But despite having not seen it, we think for all who are planning being in Basel over the next few weeks, Depot Basel 5 sounds well worth checking out.

Depot Basel No. 5 runs at Schwarzwaldallee 305, Basel until May 6th 2012

At IMM Cologne Finnish producer Artek continued their 75th Anniversary celebrations with a small show at Droom/Design Your Room in Cologne’s Belgian Quarter.

We’ll write more on the Artek story from the Stockholm Design Week; but for now a few impressions from Cologne.

Artek 75 @ Droom/Design Your Room, Cologne

Artek 75: The A 330s lamp by Alvar Aalto

Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto @ Artek 75