29 March, 2024

Alvar Aalto A805: Artek’s iconic lamp shines in a new colour

The A805 floor lamp was produced in a new special colour for Hotel St. George – a beautiful green hue with its roots in Alvar Aalto’s atelier. Nicknamed “Angel Wing”, the lamp was born of collaboration by Aalto and master metal-worker Viljo Hirvonen.

Alvar Aalto A805: Artek’s iconic lamp shines in a new colour at Hotel St. George Helsinki

Lue artikkeli suomeksi

It seems so familiar, yet at the same time it’s both contemporary and eye-catching.

Alvar Aalto is the quintessential Finnish architect and designer, and the A805 floor lamp ranks as one of his most important lamp designs. The lamp at Hotel St. George’s Wintergarden, however, is even more special. Its olive green hue has been specifically chosen to complement the atmosphere of the space.

The colour is a perfect match to Klaus Haapaniemi’s mesmerising wallpaper, Lightnings in Tiger Woods, which features a magical forest landscape.

– When the wallpaper had been chosen, Mirkku Kullberg, who was in charge of the hotel’s interior design, remembered the beautiful and unique green hue of an experimental lamp at Alvar Aalto’s atelier in Tiilimäki. At her request, I looked up the same shade in today’s colour palette, says Artek’s Country Manager Anja Matilainen

THE A805 LAMP MAY BE CONSIDERED ALVAR AALTO’S MOST IMPORTANT LAMP DESIGN.
THE A805 LAMP MAY BE CONSIDERED ALVAR AALTO’S MOST IMPORTANT LAMP DESIGN.

“Angel Wing” was created in the 1950s for Finland’s Social Insurance Institution

Special colours are not unusual when it comes to Artek’s products. In fact, Alvar Aalto himself tended to use bespoke colours and materials in his design projects.

Artek’s A805 floor lamp has been nicknamed “Angel Wing”.

 “Angel Wing” dates from the early 1950s, which is also when the headquarters of Finland’s Social Insurance Institution was designed. The lamp, first introduced to the public at the headquarters,  was featured in the main lobby and the cabinets.

Aalto was also trusted with the interior design of the Social Insurance Institution headquarters. This fuelled him with new enthusiasm for lamp design.

The metal-worker who was inspired by Aalto’s wild ideas

Aalto was supported in his design work by the master metal-worker Viljo Hirvonen. The two first met in 1953.

– The co-operation between Aalto and Hirvonen was very intensive. Without Hirvonen, Aalto’s lamps would certainly have turned out very different. Hirvonen knew the possibilities of metal and what it lends itself to, as well as which of Aalto’s wildest ideas could be realistically implemented, Alvar Aalto Foundation Chief Curator Katariina Pakoma explains.

The story goes that Aalto would sometimes show up at Hirvonen’s workshop with only the very first draft of a lamp. The collaboration enabled each lamp to find its individual shape.

The green colour beautifully matches the lightnings in tiger woods wallpaper by Klaus Haapaniemi
THE GREEN COLOUR BEAUTIFULLY MATCHES THE LIGHTNINGS IN TIGER WOODS WALLPAPER BY KLAUS HAAPANIEMI.

Artek produced a Special Edition of the green A805 lamp

At Hotel St. George’s Wintergarden, “Angel Wing” is accompanied by a matching wall lamp. Artek decided to celebrate the opening of the hotel by producing a limited Special Edition of the lamp in green. It has been received with great enthusiasm.

– Extra orders have been made to satisfy the demand. The numbers, however, are always in the dozens rather than the hundreds. Otherwise it wouldn’t be special anymore, Matilainen says.

Special Editions can’t be launched just like that. You must always discuss them with the Alvar Aalto Foundation, which nurtures the designer’s heritage. 

 – We want every product to be designed and made with great care. Each one needs to have a story, Matilainen says.

According to her, the special colour of the A805 lamp was easy to produce, as the lamp is made by hand in Finland. Though it’s not Artek’s top selling lamp, it may well be the most architectonic.

– In effect, it’s often bought by designers. “Angel Wing” is regularly showcased as an example of Artek’s products at exhibitions or trade fairs. It’s an iconic product for Artek, Matilainen says.


Published date: 03.06.2019

Take Your Favorite Piece of St. George Design Home With You 

Fell in love with Hotel St. George's design? You can find the iconic A805 lamp and most of Hotel St. George's furniture in Finnish Design Shop's St. George Collection and take the design moments you had with us home with you. 

Shop St. George Collection

Read next

Hotel life through a camera lens

At Hotel St. George’s breakfast, luxury means premium ingredients and exceptional service

Kirpi Uimonen Talks

Thursday 14 September, 2023

Together is more at Habitare

Moments bring joy at Hotel St. George

St. George House Artist Marita Kouhia

St. George Care takes climate responsibility

Maaria Wirkkala’s Art Looks Beyond Life’s Polished Surface

Helsinki Biennial invites visitors to the treasure island of art

Taste Sensations From Bangkok to Helsinki

BOON NAM SERVES A RICH ARRAY OF THAI FLAVOURS

Tomi Björck opens a contemporary Asian restaurant at Hotel St. George

Four top tips for healthier business trips

Why Helsinki is superb for sustainable shopping

Helsinki’s art year 2020: from Van Gogh to archipelago adventures

Niki Newd products are made 100% from natural ingredients with no preservatives

Ultra fresh skin care is nature’s latest luxury

How Lapponia Jewelry captured the beauty of Nordic nature

St. George Design Market

Saturday 14 December, 2019

St. George awarded Hotel of the Year

Tips what to do in Helsinki in the summer

Our tips for summery Helsinki

With over 40 diverse restaurants to choose from, Flow Festival is the place to be for those looking to experience not only the best up and coming bands but also the most delectable food trends of the year.

Why Flow is Helsinki’s most delicious festival

Restaurant Andrea steals the show at Flow

Ravintola Andrea x Omara Portuondo

Saturday 24 August, 2019
Enjoy the ambient playlist created by Helsinki Festival crew to match Hotel St. George's serene atmosphere.

Helsinki Festival X Hotel St. George Spotify playlist

As Helsinki Festival's official partner, St. George offers like-minded program and inspiration. See all the program below and join us!

St. George x Helsinki Festival 15.8.-1.9.2019

Read what to do in Helsinki in the summer and how to spend it like a local

Helsinki Summer Tips - Soak up summer like a Helsinki local

WATCH THE VIDEO: Quick and easy resistance band exercise with Hotel St. George's Personal Trainer Marko Dombi

VIDEO: A Quick & Easy Resistance Band Exercise

Exercise smart, not hard

Sleep tight, feel alright! Why sleeping is the essence of well-being

Sleep tight, feel alright! Why sleeping is the essence of well-being

In Pornaistenniemi on the western shore of the bay, you can explore a black alder forest, and duckboards through the reeds take you from Arabia to the idyllic island of Lammassaari.

If you go down to the woods today – The 6 best nature destinations around Helsinki

St  George Care Spa Helsinki Carol Roine

Avoid the winter blues with Nordic skin care tips

Linda Ekholm helps the Hotel St. George guests sleep and recover better by analyzing their sleep at Sleep Lab -sleep consultations.

How a sleep consultation will help you maximise recovery

 Finland is officially the world’s happiest country in the world. But what is Nordic happiness and well-being made of?

In search of Nordic well-being

Liam loves meeting different people from all over the world with different stories and cultural backgrounds.

How a few words of Finnish can make a man’s dream come true

A girl sitting in St. George Care Spa reading magazine

The unknown design classic that invites you to relax: Arne Jacobsen's Paris Chair

What is lymphatic therapy and why you should try it

What is lymphatic therapy and why you should try it

The long white ramp that leads to the exhibitions in Kiasma

The art museums and galleries of central Helsinki

Lux Helsinki Event in Helsinki

See & Do in Helsinki: Lux Helsinki 2019

Finnish History in 15 Short Chapters

Letting off steam: How to discover the perfect Helsinki sauna for you

Christmas markets in Helsinki 2018

In international comparisons between nations Finland is always at the top.

Because We Are Finland and You Are Not!

How to taste natural wines and learn to love them

5 x shared moments with a friend

St. George recommends: 5 x gift ideas for fathers

Ai WeiWei's art piece in Hotel St. George's entrance

An art gallery in a hotel - Ai Weiwei’s dragon welcomes visitors to Hotel St. George

Let there be light! How a Nordic innovation banishes Helsinki’s winter darkness

Enjoy a book, coffee and the smell of fresh bread at St. George bakery

From newspapers to books: Hotel St. George is full of stories

Wintergarden is the living room of the Hotel St. George, place for the guests and locals to meet.

Pekka Jylhä's "Learning to Fly" spreads its wings in Wintergarden

Mehmet Gürs' Restaurant Andrea serves anatolian flavours in downtown Helsinki

How chef superstar Mehmet Gürs came home to Helsinki

St. George is a unique and elegant hotel in the heart of Helsinki city centre. Read more about the hotel, rooms, services and location!

From national awakening to Nordic design: Hotel St. George echoes Helsinki’s history

Helsinki, the city where everything works

Helsingin upea saaristo: Isosaari, Harakka, Kaunissaari, Lammassaari, Liuskasaari, Pihlajasaari, Vartiosaari ja kymmenet muut saaret. Lue vinkkimme!

Art meets nature on Helsinki’s islands