Cube Gallery The story behind the iconic Domus Chair by Ilmari Tapiovaara.

Designing for the world.

A well-known name in the industry, Cube Gallery is lauded for its design services and international furniture and decor offerings.

This includes the latest from big names such as Vitra and Artek, as well as iconic pieces by renowned designers, such as the Domus Chair by Ilmari Tapiovaara.

First debuted by the Finnish designer almost 70 years ago, the humble wooden chair is still a cult item today.

“The well-travelled Finnish designer Ilmari Tapiovaara explored life in London and Paris before he found himself less voluntarily in Karelia, on Finland’s Eastern front during WWII,” explains Artek.

“There, the designer discovered the local forest culture, which should lastingly influence his approach to modern design.

“Asked to provide a multipurpose chair for studying and dining, Tapiovaara developed a stackable chair with a three-dimensionally moulded plywood seat. The novel production method introduced a whole new level of comfort, and the Domus Chair quickly spread across the country to schools, cafeterias, auditoriums and people’s homes.

“Domus was delivered from the factory in pieces, with only a couple of screws needed to assemble the chair.

“Eventually, Domus became Finland’s first successful post-war furniture export. Sold in the UK as ‘Stax’, it was distributed as ‘Finnchair’ in the US by Knoll and launched a chain reaction of international success for the designer. Tapiovaara’s design was prized by New York’s MoMA, he received the Good Design award in Chicago (1950) and the prestigious Gold Medal at the Milan Triennale (1951).

“Not bad for a humble wooden chair, born out of the scarcity of available materials and a designer’s mission to improve the world through good design.”

The Domus Chair is available in several variants, including oak and birch frames with leather or fabric upholstery. Part of the Artek collection, the Domus Chair is locally available at Cube Gallery.