Helsinki Design Week 2025's Commemorative Messenger
In the heart of Finland, the design world came alive during Helsinki Design Week, celebrating its 20th anniversary. Here are some of the most captivating events and exhibitions that took place.
The Finnish Design Museum hosted a landmark exhibition on Tove Jansson's Moomin universe, opening on 10 October. The exhibition delved into how Jansson's own life influenced the architecture in Moominvalley, particularly her summer island dwelling of Klovharun.
Another significant event was the opening of the Aalto House and Studio, offering a revisit to the source of much of Finland's design legacy. Finarte, a renowned Finnish design company, also reintroduced pieces from the archive, with the Apollo design being particularly notable.
Habitare, a leading furniture, design, and interior fair in the Nordics, was a significant part of Helsinki Design Week. The theme for Habitare this year was Touch. One of the highlights was Aalto University's annual 'Designs for a Cooler Planet' show, showcasing innovative designs focused on sustainability.
Local architecture practice Collaboratorio created a striking installation at Habitare, made from 40 tonnes of rammed earth bricks. Meanwhile, at the same fair, Harri Koskinen's show of freeform and mould-blown glass works was a powerful demonstration of his mastery in the material.
The Finnish Design Museum was not the only institution celebrating anniversaries. Artek, a pioneering design company, celebrated its 90th anniversary with a charming and ethereal collaboration with Marimekko.
Looking to the future, the winner of the competition to design the city's new Architecture and Design Museum was announced. The architectural firm JKMM, a local favourite, was chosen to design the museum, set to open in 2030. The new museum will add 1,100 sqm of flexible new exhibition space and boasts a soaring roof that appears to float on 5-metre high glass walls.
In addition, JKMM is also working on an extension for the National Museum of Finland, set to open in Spring 2027. Another exciting development is the opening of Yrjo Kukkapuro's former studio and home next year as a house museum. His daughter, Isa, has also published a book titled 'The Blue Door', meticulously documenting her father's legacy.
Lennart Engels, one of the exhibitors at Milan this year, was featured in the Talents and Protos curated exhibition at Habitare. Eija Rasinmäki, founder of Finarte, also celebrated 40 years of rug design and production.
The theme of this year's Helsinki Design Week was anniversaries and happiness. It's safe to say that the week was a resounding success, celebrating Finland's rich design heritage and looking towards an exciting future.
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