Gunnar Eklöf graduated from Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm 1931. He soon became focused on interiors and furniture for retirements homes and hospitals such as the Eastman Institute (1934-35), the Karolinska University Hospital (1936-39) and Södersjukhuset (1939-46) all in Stockholm. During the 1930´s Eklöf also designed several chairs in the Scandinavian modernist style.
In 1948 Eklöf was contacted by the physician Bengt Åkerblom who had written a dissertation on the topic standing and sitting posture. Together Eklöf and Åkerblom created the Åkerblom chair concept that was produced by several Swedish manufacturers such as NK Verkstäder, Nesto and Gärsnäs. From 1949 to 1958 the Åkerblom chair was produced in more than 120 000 copies in different models.
The Åkerblom chair had a 50 mm lower seat than normal chairs at the time, and a higher back that was shaped to give more support for the lower part of the spine. From the beginning the chair came in simple carver forms but was later made in the shape of Windsor chairs and armchairs. From 1951 Eklöf was a lecturer at Konstfack and in 1961 he designed a unique writing chair in the Åkerblom shape for Queen Louise. In 1963 he passed away at the age of 54.
