High above the rooftops of Helsinki, Tove Jansson made her home in a quiet studio where creativity took center stage. Comforts were secondary – what mattered most was the work. Design Stories was given the rare opportunity to visit this atmospheric space, sure to touch the heart of any Moomin fan.
THE STUDIO IN central Helsinki is like a large cube – roughly eight meters high, wide, and deep. Two of the walls are lined with evenly spaced arched windows that flood the space with natural light.
From them, there's a charming view across the rooftops of the city, and if you climb up to the loft, a smaller window offers a glimpse all the way to the sea. Even the sounds of the city seem to fade up here on the sixth floor.
This unique space belonged to artist, illustrator, and author Tove Jansson (1914–2001), best known around the world for her beloved Moomin books and comic strips. Tove lived and worked in the studio for 56 years, devoting herself to her stories, paintings, and peace of mind.
“Tove was likely drawn to the idea that she could retreat into this tower to focus on her art,” says James Zambra, Creative Director at Moomin Characters and grandson of Tove’s brother. “Here you’re in the middle of the city, yet in your own sphere, above the bustle of downtown.”
Tove Jansson moved into the studio apartment at the age of 30, during the years of World War II. The space had previously belonged to her artist friend Hjalmar Hagelstam, who died during the war.
Her first visit to the studio was dramatic – it took place during an air raid. Despite the artillery fire, Tove felt safe inside the space and emerged unharmed. The studio had been damaged during the war years: the windows remained broken for a long time, and in winter, the space was bitterly cold. Tove had to work wrapped in a fur coat. It was during those war years that the very first Moomin story, The Moomins and the Great Flood, was born. It was published in 1945.
Tove Jansson’s first Moomin story was published after the war, in 1945.
In the beginning, the living conditions were spartan. Only a small “salon” next to her work area could be heated, and the apartment didn’t even have a kitchen. Still, the studio became a vital anchor in Tove’s life, a place where she could focus entirely on her creative work. She painted, illustrated, designed large-scale murals, and wrote and drew the famous Moomin books and comic strips.
“For most people, living in a studio like this would’ve been an unusual choice. But for Tove, it was completely normal. This way of life was familiar to her, having grown up in an artist family. In fact, Tove pretty much spent her entire life living in studios,” Zambra explains.
In the 1940s and ’50s, Tove furnished her home in a bohemian and romantic style, with a touch of Moominhouse charm. She drew inspiration from her travels to Paris as well as from her parents’ artistic home. Alongside her easel, the space featured vintage and antique furniture, including a nostalgic chaise longue. On the walls she hung large fin-de-siècle advertising posters she had brought back from Paris. The studio also housed sculptures by her father, Viktor Jansson.
At first, Tove lived in the studio as a tenant. But once she began drawing the daily Moomin comic strip for the British The Evening News – then the world’s largest-circulation newspaper – she started to earn a more regular income. By the mid-1950s, she was able to purchase the studio space for herself. After years of shivering through cold winters in the attic, she finally had the chance to renovate the place.
IN THE 1960s, the studio underwent a major renovation that gave it its current, modern look. Lofts were added to both the studio and the salon, the walls were clad with pine paneling, and custom-made pine furniture was designed to fit the space. The result is an intriguing mix of old-world architecture, creative functionality, modernist design, and warm wooden surfaces.
The renovation was designed by the brother of Tove’s partner Tuulikki “Tooti” Pietilä (1917–2009) and his wife – renowned Finnish architects Reima and Raili Pietilä. They sketched the plans for the studio around the same time they were designing a summer cottage for Tove and Tuulikki on the remote islet of Klovharun, which was built between 1964 and 1965. Raili took the lead on the island retreat, while Reima focused on the city studio.
The studio was renovated in the 1960s, giving it the modern look it has today.
“When Tooti came into Tove’s life in the mid-1950s, she encouraged her to modernize in her writing, her art, and her home,” says James Zambra. “The renovated studio was the first space that truly reflected Tove’s own vision of what a home could be. The romantic and nostalgic style of the Jansson family gave way to something more modern, a bit more robust. Perhaps she had come to know more clearly who she was and what she wanted.”
THE FINAL RESULT reflected what mattered most in Tove’s life: even after the major renovation, the majority of the studio-home was still dedicated to creative work. While the renovation greatly improved the living conditions, comfort remained a secondary concern. The space was now warm and had more room thanks to the added lofts. But the kitchen, for example, was tiny.
Even after the major renovation, most of the studio-home was dedicated to creative work.
“When Tove was asked whether she wanted a bathtub or a kitchen, she chose the bathtub,” says James Zambra with a smile. “She kept herself busy with all sorts of things, but she definitely wasn’t the gourmet type. She would often get so absorbed in her work that she forgot to eat. Sometimes people would bring her food just to make sure she remembered to eat at all.”
The overall atmosphere of the studio is rugged, straightforward, and unfussy. Yet here and there, small curious objects and treasures from nature catch the eye, revealing what fascinated Tove. There are beautiful stones, seashells, and miniature ship models. It’s easy to imagine these items appearing in the illustrations of the Moomin books.
The studio remained the heart of Tove Jansson’s life and creativity until the very end. After her passing, great care has been taken to preserve it just as she left it, down to the smallest details. Her oil paints are still there, along with her eyeglasses and the flower crown familiar from old photographs.
Who: Tove Jansson
- Tove Jansson (1914–2001) was a Finnish artist, author, and comic strip creator, best known for her beloved Moomin stories.
- Born into an artistic family in Helsinki, she studied art both in Finland and abroad, including in Stockholm and Paris.
- The Moomins began as children’s books written and illustrated by Jansson, and later grew into comic strips, television adaptations, and a global phenomenon.
- Her studio-home was located in central Helsinki, where she worked for most of her life.
- Jansson was a highly versatile artist who also created frescoes, paintings, short stories, and novels for adults. Her work earned her numerous awards, including the prestigious Pro Finlandia Medal in 1976.
Tove and the world of the Moomins can be explored at the Museum of Finnish Architecture and Design in Helsinki, where a special exhibition will be open to the public from October 10, 2025, to September 27, 2026. The exhibition looks at how Tove Jansson experienced architecture and design in her own life – and how it’s reflected in the Moomin stories.
See also:
• More designs by Tove Jansson >
• All Moomin products >
Text: Anna-Kaisa Huusko Images: Niclas Mäkelä Production: Design Stories