The Lamino armchair, a piece of seating furniture created in 1956, solidified Yngve Ekström’s position within the Scandinavian Modernism movement. Designed with an emphasis on ergonomics and minimalism, the chair has remained in continuous production for decades, reflecting the durability and functional design principles that defined Ekström’s career as an architect and designer throughout the twentieth century.
Early Life and Origins
Born in 1913 in Hagafors, located in the Småland region of Sweden, Yngve Ekström developed a multidisciplinary skill set that included wood carving and sculpture alongside his architectural practice. These foundational abilities informed his later work in furniture design, allowing him to integrate aesthetic refinement with structural utility within the Modernist tradition.
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In his professional career, Ekström collaborated with his brother, Jerker Ekström, and a business partner, Sven Bertil Sjöqvist. Together, they founded the furniture manufacturing company originally known as ESE-möbler. The firm was eventually renamed Swedese, a company where Ekström remained active for over four decades until his passing in 1988.
Recognition and Legacy
Beyond his architectural output, Ekström’s primary influence stems from his furniture production. In 1999, the Swedish magazine Sköna hem designated the Lamino armchair as the Swedish furniture design of the twentieth century. This accolade highlights his contribution to a movement that prioritized functional clarity and the rejection of excessive ornamentation, aligning his work with the core tenets of Scandinavian Modernism.
Fast facts
- Born: 1913, Hagafors, Sweden
- Died: 1988
- Citizenship: Sweden
- Occupations: Architect, designer, wood carver, sculptor
- Notable Work: Lamino armchair (1956)
- Company founded: Swedese (originally ESE-möbler)
Questions readers ask
What is Yngve Ekström’s most famous design?
He is best known for the Lamino armchair, which he designed in 1956.
With whom did Ekström found his furniture company?
He co-founded ESE-möbler, later renamed Swedese, with his brother Jerker Ekström and partner Sven Bertil Sjöqvist.
