Alvar Aalto designed a home for composer Joonas Kokkonen that blends beautifully into the landscape, and inside opens up like a fan around the studio and grand piano. Come and explore Villa Kokkonen with Design Stories! Read more
Enso-Gutzeit’s head office was a total work of art for Alvar Aalto, whose office designed every detail of the building from the interior to furniture and lighting. Also known as the Sugar Cube, the building is one of Aalto’s most controversial works and still evokes strong emotions. During Helsinki Design Week, anyone can finally explore it. Read more
The Muuratsalo Experimental House functioned both as a summer residence of Alvar and Elissa Aalto and a test site for architectural elements. The Experimental House, located in Central Finland, gave Alvar Aalto the opportunity to play with construction materials and test new kinds of structural solutions. Read more
Pertti Männistö has collected an incredibly extensive collection of lamps and furniture designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto. The collector’s home in Kaarina, Finland, is also decorated with Aalto furniture that exudes timeless beauty. Timeless indeed – the newest furniture in Männistö’s Aalto collection was made in the 1960s. Read more
Meander housing, designed by American architect Steven Holl and Newil&Bau, will be built in Töölö, Helsinki. In the meandering shape and under the green roof of the building, there will be a variety of apartments of different sizes, all sharing the beautiful light that changes with the seasons. Read more
Säynätsalo Town Hall was built in the early 1950s to serve as a town hall for a municipal of only 3,000 residents. Today, the building is open to visitors and offers guest rooms for an overnight stay. Take a tour around the town hall together with Design Stories! Read more
Artek has launched Alvar Aalto’s classic textile pattern, Siena, in three new colorways inspired by Aalto’s material world. Among the new additions are two versions of “Shadow Siena”, a beloved variation recently rediscovered in the archives. Read more
In the early 1930s, Alvar Aalto designed several chairs made of bentwood and plywood. The Bob W apartment hotel, to be opened in Helsinki in spring 2021, will feature these Aalto classics made by Artek. Bob W acquired the chairs second-hand – in the spirit of circular economy – through Franckly. Read more
The Paimio Sanatorium Anniversary Collection includes a special birch wood version of the Paimio armchair, as well as Aalto stools dressed in forest green, sun yellow and sky blue colors found in the sanatorium. Additionally, Artek introduces new colors for Aino Aalto’s Side Table 606. Read more
“You can climb on the four-legged stool, but never on the three-legged one,” says Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen when describing her relationship with the classic chair designed by Alvar Aalto. Read more
In downtown Helsinki, under the spires of a castle-like Art Nouveau building, there’s a home whose residents value a cozy atmosphere and design from past decades. Join Design Stories on a visit to this charming home! Read more
The Paimio Sanatorium 90 poster competition was received with tremendous enthusiasm both in Finland and abroad. The international interest and overwhelming number of entries, 444 in total, took the jury by surprise. Here are the winners – take a look! Read more
Spring is the time for celebration: schools are out for summer and the hard work of students is finally paying off. If you’re on the hunt for the perfect graduation gift, look no further. Check out our eight best gift ideas for your fave grads and get ready to celebrate your loved ones in style! Read more
Anna Vartiainen, communications director and member of the jury of the Paimio Sanatorium 90 – Human Perspective poster competition, is working with the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation to outline guidelines for the future of the landmark building designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto. Design Stories got to visit Anna above the rooftops of Helsinki—where, by complete surprise, we found a bit of Paris. Read more
Ready, set, picnic! The sun is shining and the birds are chirping – it’s an excellent time to gather your nearest and dearest for some outdoor fun. Check out our best tips for the ultimate pique-nique experience and get ready to soak up some rays. Read more
A new international poster competition organized by the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation and Grafia is now open for entries, interpreting Aino and Alvar Aalto’s vision of the human relationship with the environment. Finnish Design Shop is pleased to be involved as a partner. The competition runs from 10 February to 10 March. Get to know the jury and read head of jury Ilkka Kärkkäinen’s comments about the competition. Read more
In the color palette of this beautifully restored home in Stockholm, hues of rhubarb, masala, truffle and oatmeal take turns. Luscious salmon-red tiles and wild floral wallpaper have also claimed their own spaces in interior designer Gabriella Gullberg’s home, showcasing her confident choices. Read more
Artek’s three-legged Aalto stool, the iconic stool 60, turns 90 this year. Artek is marking the anniversary with special editions, the first of which underlines the innovative structure of the stool. Here comes stool 60 Kontrasti! Read more
Welcome for a bout of treasure-hunting in Franckly’s very own summer shop! Our marketplace for pre-owned design is bursting with beauties for the summer home from gorgeous garden furniture to vintage tableware. To celebrate the opening of the Summer Store, we selected five of our favorites from Franckly’s outdoor selection. Read more
The Milan furniture fair, or Salone del Mobile.Milano, is one of the most essential events in the entire design industry. While the fairgrounds are dedicated to presenting new product launches, the city’s many palaces, galleries, showrooms, and courtyards are always bustling with inspiring exhibitions – and guests lined up to get in! Here are the Finnish Design Shop team’s favorites from the design week. Read more
Ilkka Kärkkäinen, head of the jury of the Paimio Sanatorium 90 poster competition, wants to engage with an open mind in things that stand the test of time. In this Design Stories interview, he talks about the effect of Aino and Alvar Aalto on his work as a graphic artist – and gives a few tips on those submitting entries to the poster competition! Read more
Did you know that all bentwood furniture by Artek is made in Turku, Finland, which is also the home of Finnish Design Shop? Design Stories visited Artek’s a-factory to see how the 90-year-old stool 60 and other Artek classics are made. Join us for a tour! Read more
Finland is the happiest country in the world for the sixth time in a row, and also the other Nordic countries rank in the top ten of the UN World Happiness Report 2023. As we celebrate the International Day of Happiness, it’s worth taking a closer look at the relationship between Finnish design and happiness. Read more
The Finnish apartment developer Newil&Bau has become known for its innovative projects that blend visionary architecture with concepts created by interior architects. One of the company’s latest projects, 76&Piha, is located in Helsinki and involves transforming a former office complex into a modern residential building. Read more
Get ready to be swept off your feet and transported to the heart of Paris with this stunning Art Nouveau apartment renovation. With a mix of 20th and 70th century vibes, the apartment balances modern comfort with timeless elegance. From the original stained-glass windows to the striking marble marvel of a bathroom, this apartment is a one-of-a-kind oeuvre. Read more
Iittala’s 2023 releases include another batch of design treasures buried in its archives – which truly are incredibly extensive considering Iittala’s 140-year-old history. This spring, especially fans of Alvar Aalto or Oiva Toikka are surely in for an abundance of treats! Read more
Made by Choice co-founder Niclas Ahlström is passionate about many things: art, books, and especially chairs. Many of the pieces found in Ahlström’s home have been made in the company’s own factory in Halikko, Southwest Finland. Read more
The Stockholm Furniture Fair and Stockholm Design Week 2023 were organized in February, and the city was bustling with interesting exhibitions and events. The Finnish Design Shop team was there to explore new launches and trends – check out our picks from Stockholm! Read more
Artek and TAF Studio have continued their collaboration, resulting in an Aalto-inspired collection of luminaires. The key elements in the new Kori collection include baskets, eggs and recycled materials. Read more
A forest of our own, deliveries to 102 countries, wild food delicacies, brand new interior design service – Finnish Design Shop’s year 2022 featured various highlights. Now at the beginning of the year, it’s a good time to peek into the past and celebrate the successes. Read what 2022 had in store for us! Read more