Finnish Design Shop and HAY create a one-of-a-kind pop-up restaurant for Helsinki Design Week 2025
The pop-up restaurant is furnished by Finnish Design Shop in collaboration with HAY.
HELSINKI DESIGN WEEK’S main venue in 2025 is the Suomitalo building, completed in 1911 and located right by the Old Church Park in the heart of the city. During the ten-day festival, it will host a variety of experiences, including the main exhibition curated by Anniina Koivu.
On Wednesday, September 10, a one-of-a-kind temporary restaurant will open on the fifth floor to celebrate Helsinki Design Week’s 20th anniversary – and the collaboration is very much a gathering among friends. The restaurant partner is Kuurna, the beloved classic on Meritullinkatu in Helsinki, which is also celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
The table setting is centered around La Pittura, a new tableware collection designed by Emma Kohlmann for HAY.
“It’s both a joy and an honor to celebrate the shared 20th anniversary of Helsinki Design Week and Kuurna. The collaboration is meaningful to us in many ways: we feel that both of our small family-run businesses are united by a passion for making Helsinki an even better city, as well as a desire to highlight the beauty of everyday life and the joy and craftsmanship found here,” say Laura Styyra and Tom Hansen, the owners of Kuurna.
The menu will feature Kuurna’s beloved classics from the past two decades. The dinner will showcase fish and vegetarian dishes prepared in Kuurna’s signature style, using fresh Finnish fish along with organic vegetables and fruits from Kuurna’s own stall at the Hakaniemi Market Hall.
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La Pittura was designed for HAY by American artist Emma Kohlmann (b. 1989).
At the heart of the La Pittura collection are cheerful, hand-painted motifs inspired by historical ceramic traditions – a fitting detail, since the name itself means “painting” in Italian.
Helsinki Design Week’s Program Director Anni Korkman is delighted about the collaboration.
“In honor of our anniversary, we’re looking to the future, but we also enjoy reminiscing a little about the past years. The main venue of the 2022 festival was Kanavaranta 5, where we opened a rooftop restaurant with Kuurna for the duration of the event. The project was a great success and, hopefully, a memorable experience for many. We’re truly excited to be working again with Kuurna’s amazing team, it feels like coming home,” says Korkman.
“Reaching 20 years is a wonderful milestone for anyone. We’re thrilled to celebrate it together with our friends at Finnish Design Shop, too.”
• See also: Anni Korkman's picks for the festival week >
The pieces also delight their users as small works of art in their own right.
Each illustration has been hand-painted directly onto the tableware.
The restaurant’s interior has been designed by designer Lauri Johansson, while the furnishings are provided by Finnish Design Shop, the world’s largest online store for Nordic design. Having just celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, Finnish Design Shop is now joining forces with Helsinki Design Week for another milestone.
“Twenty years is quite an achievement, which makes it especially meaningful to celebrate Helsinki Design Week’s anniversary together. Naturally, we share a passion for spreading the joy of Nordic design – and what better setting for it than a beautiful architectural space enjoyed over a shared meal,” says Noora Tirkkonen, CEO of Finnish Design Shop.
The Rey chairs and paper lamps are also part of HAY’s collection.
From its extensive collection of over 300 brands, Finnish Design Shop has selected furniture and tableware by the popular design brand HAY for the dinner. The atmosphere of the space will be harmonious yet full of color.
“HAY’s playful style is a perfect match for the festive yet laid-back spirit of the dinner. At the same time, we get to offer a visual feast with the new La Pittura tableware designed by artist Emma Kohlmann,” Tirkkonen continues.
Kuurna’s pop-up restaurant at Helsinki Design Week will be open from September 10 to 13, 2025. Dinner seatings will take place on Wednesday and Thursday at 5 PM, 7 PM, and 8:30 PM, on Friday at 5 PM and 8:30 PM, and on Saturday at 4 PM. Guests can enjoy a four-course menu accompanied by either a wine pairing or a non-alcoholic beverage package.
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Text: Helsinki Design Weekly and Design Stories Images: Justus Hirvi
Published on 8 Sep, 2025
