Aino & Alvar Aalto – the design classics and the rare objects

Some pieces of furniture feel so self-evident that it is easy to forget how groundbreaking they once were.

Aino and Alvar Aalto helped change how architecture and interiors were understood in the 20th century. With organic forms, carefully chosen materials and a strong link between function and everyday life, they created a design language that still feels current.

At Vandalorum in Värnamo, the breadth of their work can be discovered through more than 300 objects from collector Pertti Männistö's private Aalto collection.

On show are furniture, glass, lighting, early prototypes and experimental objects. Alongside well-known classics are pieces that tell the story of the development behind the finished form.

The exhibition also highlights the importance of Aino Marsio-Aalto. While Alvar has often received most of the attention in design history, the couple worked closely together. Aino played a central role in the complete interior concepts, where furniture, materials and architecture were meant to form a coherent whole.

Perhaps it is precisely this holistic view that makes their work so relevant to interiors today. The objects were not created only to be beautiful on their own, but to work together with the people and rooms around them.

At Vandalorum, the exhibition becomes a chance to see both the familiar forms and the ideas that preceded them.

Why Prestaged picks Aino & Alvar Aalto

For the rare chance to see design classics, prototypes and lesser-known objects from an extensive private collection – and to discover the collaboration behind them.

Visit

VenueVandalorum, Skulpturvägen 2, Värnamo

Dates23 May 2026–24 January 2027

Opening hoursCheck current opening hours before your visit

Read more about the exhibition at .