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
Paimio Sanatorium was Alvar Aalto’s international breakthrough and a functionalist “total work of art”. Now the building is on the verge of a new era, under the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation. The Franckly Visits column takes you on a tour to inspiring architecture and design destinations – nice to have you with us! 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
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 exhibition Aallot – Aino and Alvar Aalto Through a Collector’s Eyes showcases classics and rarities from collector Pertti Männistö’s amazingly extensive Aalto collection. On display are also original pieces from the Paimio Sanatorium. Read more
Design treasures, local history, architectural gems, art in a sauna... There’s no end of places to visit in the Finnish summer. Design Stories’ editorial team picked their must-see exhibitions for summer 2022 – grab the best tips for your own summer adventures! Read more
Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen ponders whether you can enjoy the feel of a summer cottage without leaving home. Spoiler alert: you can. Read more
Franckly is a thriving pre-owned online design marketplace run by a team that’s passionate about curated vintage design and responsible consumption. Design Stories interviewed Franckly’s Sales Manager Lotta Kuuteri, who has found her calling in the marvelous world of pre-owned design. 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
“My friend has an ingenious way of writing down the things they want to do during the summer before the start of the summer holiday,” writes Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen. A list like that may save your holiday when the summer sneaks up on you. Read more
Director Virpi Suutari's documentary ‘Aalto’ examines Alvar and Aino Aalto not only as talented architects and modern cosmopolitans, but also deeply human characters. Design Stories interviewed Suutari about the film’s premiere. Read more
Known as Alvar Aalto's masterpiece, the Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Finland is an intoxicating ensemble of Aalto's detailed imprint and timeless elegance. Let Franckly's lifestyle images shot at Finlandia Hall offer you inspiration. Read more
The Paimio Sanatorium is considered to be one of Alvar Aalto’s most important works. The functionalist building was built as a tuberculosis sanatorium. It is situated in the middle of a beautiful pine forest and is an impressive site up to this day. Read more
Numerous buildings testify to Alvar Aalto’s intensive design activity outside of Finland. Of the six buildings which he completed in Germany, three are to be found in the city of Wolfsburg: the Alvar-Aalto-Kulturhaus and two churches, Heilig-Geist-Kirche and Stephanuskirche. Read more
Helsinki Design Week, the biggest design festival in the Nordic countries, will entertain the public with over 200 events this year. See five tips by Anni Korkman, Programme Director, on the offerings of the fifteenth Design Week. Read more