Practical and Playful Plektra
The clever Plektra stool by Ineke Hans is a lovely addition to Iittala’s expanding interiors collection. Plektra is a versatile and interactive little helper for the home.
Plektra holds the middle ground between side table and stool. This hybrid design supports Iittala’s traditions: aesthetic functionality that serves more purposes than one. Plektra is made of high-quality plywood and fits very well in Iittala’s family of simplified, yet playful and practical interiors products.
The stackable Plektra is an answer to multiple everyday needs, whether as a side table for the sofa or bed, an extra step for children or as a small additional stool. The two heights make a nice set creating a combination of tables with two levels. The hole allows an easy pick up and move.
Like its plywood partners in the Iittala porftolio, the Vakka boxes by Aalto+Aalto and the Kerros table tray by Matti Klenell, Plektra follows the philosophy of making space instead of taking up space.
Living spaces are becoming smaller, more personalised and multifunctional, so small products are needed to support the life in small units. There is a clear need tor multi-purpose furniture and versatile objects in the future. “To me there is a practical functionality where things have to work and do their jobs and there is a mental functionality where products are poetic or in another way nice for your mind. Functionality can give products a longer life and add to their durability,” designer Ineke Hans states.
New designer for Iittala
Plektra is the first collaboration between Iittala and Dutch designer Ineke Hans, known for her experimental, yet simplified and recog-nizable design language. “Many of my designs are rooted in questions on techniques and materials and human habits. Exploring these is often a conscious choice. I like to play with the associative power of our brains. It is nice to play ping-pong with knowledge we have in the back of our minds through which we understand and read objects. I can use that as a designer.”
There are three Plektra options to choose from, the lower one in yellow and higher one in white or plywood. Plektra is made of a traditional Finnish material, birch plywood veneer, while coloured items are stain painted. These pieces are made in Finland.
Ineke Hans
Dutch designer Ineke Hans (b. 1966) works with product design as well as spatial and architectural projects. Her designs investigate the psychological roots of products. She plays with the interaction between people, objects and space. Hans has been valued for her down-to-earth and hybrid design approach with a focus on detail, function and clarity.
Ineke Hans graduated from the Academy of Arts Arnhem and Royal College of Art in London. In 1998, she set up her own studio INEKEHANSARNHEM in The Netherlands. Her work has received prestigious international design awards including several Red Dot and Design Plus awards. Her designs can be found in e.g. V&A Museum London, Museé des Arts Decoratives Paris, Stedelijk Museum Armsterdam, The Art Institute of Chicago.. Along with Iittala, her international clients include e.g. Arco, Cappellini, Magis, Offecct, Royal Ahrend and RoyalVKB
