CARL GUSTAV HIORT AF ORNÄS

Carl-Gustaf Hiort af Ornäs (1911–1996), although not as famous as his fellow citizen, Alvar Aalto, should be remembered as one of the most innovative interior architect and designer of his time.
Having studied architecture at the Helsinki University of Technology, he began his career working for the furniture company Ekwall during the interwar period.
On the eve of peace, Hiort decided to launch his own company, Puunveisto Oy, to develop a range of furniture defined by a balance between modernity, simplicity and comfort.
Hiort was very interested in experimenting new plywood techniques to create light biomorphic shapes. He developed a process to bend veneer in three dimensions enabling to carve the back of a chair from just one plate.
The production was distributed mainly through Nupponen, a company with several outlets in Finland and by Gösta Westberg AB in Sweden.
Successful designs include the Siesta and Rialto armchairs, the Manhattan and Studio sofas.
Hiort gained international acknowledgement when he exhibited at the XI Milan Triennial in 1957.
His Rialto armchairs were displayed alongside with pieces by Alvar Aalto, Yki Nummi, Lisa Johansson-Pape.