What’s new: Alnus Poster

Designer Yrjö Kukkapuro has revolutionized both the design world and people’s homes with his ingenious chairs. The latest highlight at Finnish Design Shop this week is the Alnus Poster, showcasing Kukkapuro’s fictional Nelonen chair. The chair, glowing in its vibrant colors, originally existed only in the poster.

DESIGNER YRJÖ KUKKAPURO is best known for his ingeniously designed chairs. “Does it make any sense to design a chair which is not good to sit on?” is one of Kukkapuro's favorite phrases and more than aptly reflects the designer's love for ergonomic design and furniture.

But if your home is not begging for a new throne at the moment, don't worry. You can still sprinkle some charm into your interior with the new Kukkapuro: check out the Alnus Poster which graphic designer Tapani Aartomaa designed for the professor Kukkapuro. The poster features an imaginary pixelated Nelonen chair glowing in primary colors but the creation didn't just exist around in the pixels – it also leaped to life by the designer himself.

Although it might seem logical the other way around, the poster came first. Aartomaa designed the Alnus poster in 1993 and only after that did Kukkapuro begin turning it into a physical chair. Complete with colorful, laminated legs, the corresponding chair is a rare collector's item that was only manufactured as a limited edition of 39 pieces.

The relaunched Alnus Poster is also something of a collector's item, as it is now only available in a limited batch of 250 posters. The poster is part of a fundraising campaign that aims to develop Irmeli and Yrjö Kukkapuro's studio in Kauniainen, Finland, into a museum.

See also:

• What's new at Finnish Design Shop >
• Read also: Yrjö Kukkapuro’s studio is a source of limitless inspiration >

Text: Susa Pääkkönen Images: Annabelle Antas, Yrjö Kukkapuro

Published on 18 Aug, 2023