Design Finland

Doctor Design - Petri Vainio

One Finnish designer I've been admiring already for a long time is Petri Vainio. His works are always so functional and yet so stylish.

I especially like Lempi chair and Rento floor lamp.

Doctor Design products are quite widely available in shops around Finland. They also have their own shop within walking distance from downtown Helsinki.

Petri has also designed for other brands than Doctor Design. Tuisku dish is a great modern legend, available widely. The new Mainio product family, designed for Fabrisso is also a great new approach for modularity in furniture design.

Overall, Petri Vainio is on his way to be a true legend among the old masters.

FINNISH DESIGNERS WANTED

Are you a designer with a connection with Finland? Do you have commercially available products?

Or do you know someone who is a Finnish designer and deserves international awareness?

I'm looking for new future designs and designers from Finland to be presented to the world.

Contact me with details via email rockcity (at) welho.com

Design shopping at the airport

Design Forum Finland has opened a new shop at the Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport. This is great news for all the busy travelling people who don't have time to do the shopping in the city.

The shop carries quite wide selection of finnish design. Iivana Helsinki, Doctor Design, Tonfisk Design, Woodnotes, etc. etc.

The other shops at the airport carry the traditional brands such as Marimekko and Iittala, but that's something you can buy all over the world anyway.

The new shop is located on the airside of the international terminal, close to security of departure hall 3, just opposite of the Tie Rack.

Highly recommended.

In love with a fruit dish

One may say it's insane to fall in love with physical items. Well, I have done so.

"Director's Cut" fruit dish from Tonfisk Design is just one great peace of art. It has an excellent balance of form, color and texture. It functions well with and without the fruit in it.

Ever since I saw it the first time, it's been bothering me. Bothering in a positive way.

Just look at it. Ain't it beatiful?

Design Hotel Klaus K

Finally it's here!

The first design hotel in Finland, Hotel Klaus K has opened it's doors. It's supposed to be inspired by Kalevala (Finland's national epic) and has a Scandinavian style interior with graphics and themes.

Klaus K was built in the premises of old traditional business hotel right in the middle of downtown Helsinki. The architectural design was made by Finnish Sarc Oy and interiors by Swedish Stylt Trampoli Ab, so you should be getting a true Nordic contribution.

The hotel has multiple restaurants, lead by Markus Maulavirta. This is very promising, since Markus is an excellent chef and a big fan of short distance ingredients.

The day spa in conjunction with the hotel is of top quality with a very good reputation (it has been open already for a while).

I haven't been to the hotel or any of the restaurants (Yes, I've done the spa!), so any comments and experiences are very welcome!

Some links for more information:

Hotel: www.klauskhotel.com

Architects: www.sarc.fi

Design: www.stylt.se