Sign in with Google
Sign in with email
Marking an annual fixture on the international design calendar, Helsinki is all set to shine with innumerable design creations during their first ever B2B contemporary design event, Design Helsinki. The design-studded event will run from 24th August 2022 till 25th August 2022 across Helsinki. “Helsinki is recognised worldwide as a City of Design and in this year, its tenth since being named World Design Capital, we are delighted to shine a spotlight on the wealth of Nordic design talent with a two-day celebration that will bring brands, showrooms and cultural institutions together, ” says Media 10 spokesperson, organisers of Design Helsinki.
An architectural and design gem renowned for its Nordic minimalism and functional design, it is the most northern European capital. Among Northern European cities, Helsinki has the highest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings, making it a sight to behold for any design enthusiast. With important names as Alvar Alto, Artek and Marimekko, among others, Finnish design has made an impact not only in the country but worldwide. The event is being organised with the support of Habitare, a leading Finnish furniture event and the Alvar Alto Foundation.
“We see the collaboration with Design Helsinki as an interesting opportunity for Habitare. Habitare holds a strong position among the events taking place in the autumn, and for more than 50 years, it has been highlighting interesting phenomena, experts and companies from the furniture, design and interior decoration industries,” expresses Tanja Pasila, Habitare’s business manager, for the collaborative design event.
Design Helsinki will be an assortment of multiple creative programmes and events in a city-wide display. Each of the participating brands and studios will be channelling the Nordic culture and the influence of the Finnish furniture design practice that has a long-held history of committing to sustainability. The result will be a design bandwidth which not only captures the existing essence in architecture and industrial design but also establishes a modern dialogue. Both Habitare and Design Helsinki will appear in each other's programmes. Laura Sarvilinna, the creative director of Habitare, will be interviewed as part of the Design Helsinki programme on ‘Regenerate’ while Design Helsinki will participate in Habitare's programme as part of the theme ‘Blending Spaces’.
A number of attractions will be part of Design Helsinki in and around Helsinki, including the Kasarmitori International Pavillion, Design Museum Helsinki, and Esplanadi park. In addition, the event will highlight the local showrooms in the region, which will open their doors to architects, designers, dealers, merchants, and others to showcase the best in Nordic and Scandinavian design. Holding an integral place in the design festival, the local showrooms partnering with Design Helsinki would not only display the best in nordic art and design but will also host multiple topic-led discussions, talks, workshops, launches and much more.
The event will also feature a customised international design pavilion at Kasarmitori square in Helsinki's Kaartinkaupunki neighbourhood. Despite the fact that the city as a whole is culturally and architecturally rich, Kasarmitori was chosen specifically for its wonderful historic structures that not only complement but also add to the pavilion's design. Scandinavian and worldwide contract interior brands with hundreds of goods including furniture, lighting, surfaces, architectural finishes, and more within the 1,650 square meters pavilion. Aeris, Arktis, Eikund, Framery, Herman Miller, KT Interior, Martela, Lintex, naughtone, Vaarni, Secto Design, and many more have already confirmed their participation.
The vast array of showrooms dotted around the city centre enables attendees to explore some of the most impressive commercial spaces that Helsinki has to offer, with distinguished international brands such as Carl Hansen, Norman Copenhagen, and Kvadrat all taking part, as well as local sought-after names such as Marimekko and Skanno. High-end contract furniture companies, technological specialists, and material producers will be among those taking part in a variety of events guided by industry professionals.
Even as its first edition, the two-day-long event will have been planned to celebrate design through each of its layers including specially commissioned installations, brand activations, topical discussions and multiple design-focused programs.
What do you think?