ALVAR AALTO | PAAVO TYNELL | LISA JOHANSSON-PAPE | AINO AALTO | ILMARI TAPIOVAARA | YRJÖ KUKKAPURO | ESKO PAJAMIES | GUNNEL NYMAN | TOBIA SCARPA | HIORT AF ORNÄS | ELIEL SAARINEN | TAPIO WIRKKALA | GUNILLA JUNG | WERNER WEST | MARIA LINDEMAN | HEIKKI TURUNEN | PAULI BLOMSTEDT| RUNAR ENGBLOM | ARTTU BRUMMER | MAIJA RUOSLAHTI | GRETE JALK | CARIN BRYGGMAN | TOINI MUONA | MAIJA HEIKINHEIMO
Functionalism
Functionalism, also known as modernist design, emerged in the Nordic countries during the 1930s–1950s. It emphasized simplicity, utility, and clean geometry — where form follows function. Furniture from this era prioritizes structure, comfort and honest materials over decoration.
A signature of the style is tubular furniture – lightweight chairs, armchairs and tables made from metal tubing. These pieces are iconic representations of mid-century modern design, often associated with early industrial aesthetics and Scandinavian minimalism.
At Fargo Vintage & Design, you’ll find carefully curated original pieces from the functionalist period — including rare tubular armchairs, minimalist storage furniture and timeless Scandinavian lighting that embodies the era’s ethos.