Chapter 3 | The Building of Paimio Sanatorium3.5.2 OTHER FURNITURE OF THE PATIENT ROOM
Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas (Furniture and Building Work Factory) manufac-
tured a total of 300 nightstand and cabinet combinations priced at FIM 250 each.^833
J. Merivaara furniture manufacturing company had also offered a nightstand model
used in the Finnish Red Cross Hospital for FIM 425 each.^834 The nightstand was
classified as standard furniture in the furniture purchase listing. However, the san-
atorium eventually ordered a piece designed by Aalto, which was less expensive to
manufacture than standard pieces by other manufacturers. Aalto took no part in the
discussion on this issue, disqualifying himself, as he was the designer of the piece in
question and stood to gain financially form the order.^835
No architectural drawings or work specifications have been preserved of the night-
stand-cabinet combination. The unit comprised two parts. The bottom part was a closed
volume with a cabinet and two drawers. The cabinet part was fitted with caster wheels
and framed by a tubular structure that supported a table top. Nested inside the tubular
frame, the unit took up less space, but the two parts could also be used separately. Its
height was designed so that the table top could be used as an overbed table.
The desk was the only piece of furniture classified as a fixture. It was installed in front
of the window.^836 Aalto invited offers for different surface materials and treatments. The
options were birch plywood, painted desk; a plywood table with an Okoumé or flame
birch veneer with Becko varnish; or a pitch-pine Becko-varnished desk. Five factories
placed an offer.^837 Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas’ offer is dated two to three days
later than those of the other companies in the competition and it quoted only a slightly
lower price than the three offers placed earlier. Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas, again,
won the order.
An undated axonometric drawing shows the patient-room bed executed with a
tubular steel frame with curving end-panels. The panel at the foot of the bed is lower
than the headboard. The architect used sketches to study the bending of the tubular
leg as well as the shape and scaling of the end-panels.^838 None of the versions include
casters. The execution differed from the drawings for the part of the tubular frame.
The patient-room twin beds were positioned along one wall with the end facing the
wall. J. Merivaara submitted an offer for the hospital beds based on their own standard
model.^839 The beds were eventually ordered from August Louhen Rautasänkytehdas
833 A Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas invoice, March 15, (1933). KOR.
834 J. Merivaara’s offer to the Building Board of the Sanatorium of Southwest Finland, April 7, 1932. Documents relat-
ed to the Paimio Sanatorium project. AAM.
835 Building Board May 18, 1932, Section 4. PSA.
836 Drawing No. 50-278. AAM.
837 An offer from Laaksosen Huonekalutehdas, May 3, 1932; an offer from Oy Puutehdas Ab, May 4, 1932; an offer
from Oy Huonekalutehdas ja Sorvimo, May 4, 1932; an offer from N. Boman Oy, May 4, 1932; and an offer from Oy
Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab, May 6, 1932. Documents related to the Paimio Sanatorium project. AAM.
838 Drawings Nos. 50-143, 50-154, 50-156 and 50-182. AAM.
839 J. Merivaara’s offer to the Building Board of the Sanatorium of Southwest Finland, April 7, 1932. Documents relat-
ed to the Paimio Sanatorium project. AAM.