Helsinki Design Week 2010

Inside Alvar Aalto's former studio in Munkkiniemi
Inside Alvar Aalto's former studio in Munkkiniemi
(Image credit: TBC)
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Last week Wallpaper* made the annual journey to Helsinki Design Week, where it discovered a city gearing up to take the reins as World Design Capital 2012. Habitare, the main show itself, was rife with interesting finds, including Finnish brand Nikari's beautiful handcrafted wooden furniture and the Protoshop group show of items just waiting to be put into production. Factories, studios and private houses also threw open their doors, including that of Finnish maestro Alvar Aalto. Here's what caught our eyes.

Alvar Aalto Foundation, the Alvar Aalto Archives and the Alvar Aalto Museum Architectural Heritage

Today it houses the Alvar Aalto Foundation, the Alvar Aalto Archives and the Alvar Aalto Museum Architectural Heritage

(Image credit: TBC)

A design desk within the museum

Alvar Aalto ran the office until his death in 1976

(Image credit: TBC)

Interior view of the studio that was built in the 1950s

The studio was built in the 1950s

(Image credit: TBC)

living room with black piano and zebra stripe pattern seating

Living room at the house of Alvar Aalto in Riihitie, just a short walk from his studio

(Image credit: TBC)

The dining room of Aalto's house, completed in 1936

The dining room of Aalto's house, completed in 1936

(Image credit: TBC)

Aalto's original iittala glassware collection

Aalto's original iittala glassware collection

(Image credit: TBC)

Aalto's studio in his own home

Aalto’s studio in his own home

(Image credit: TBC)

A telephone table in Aalto's house

A telephone table in Aalto's house

(Image credit: TBC)

Objects illustrated with Oiva Toikka designs at the Design Museum

Objects illustrated with Oiva Toikka designs at the Design Museum

(Image credit: TBC)

Oiva Toikka's many birds

Oiva Toikka's many birds

(Image credit: TBC)

Toikka also doubles as a stage and costume designer. This is one of his opera costumes

Toikka also doubles as a stage and costume designer. This is one of his opera costumes

(Image credit: TBC)

Iittala's miniature world of coloured cubes at Helsinki Design Week's main show, Habitare

Iittala's miniature world of coloured cubes at Helsinki Design Week's main show, Habitare

(Image credit: TBC)

Tall cupboard by Nikari at Habitare

Tall cupboard by Nikari at Habitare

(Image credit: TBC)

Sketch by Hannu Kahonen, winner of the Kaj Franck Design Prize, at Habitare

Sketch by Hannu Kahonen, winner of the Kaj Franck Design Prize, at Habitare

(Image credit: TBC)

Sketch by Hannu Kahonen

Sketch by Hannu Kahonen

(Image credit: TBC)

'Kulmio' tiled hexagons by Maija Puoskari

'Kulmio' tiled hexagons by Maija Puoskari

(Image credit: TBC)

'Tuoli' chair by Antti Tuomi

'Tuoli' chair by Antti Tuomi

(Image credit: TBC)

'Align' book storage by Satoshi Yoshida

'Align' book storage by Satoshi Yoshida

(Image credit: TBC)

'Tilkku' tiles series by Niina Aalto

'Tilkku' tiles series by Niina Aalto

(Image credit: TBC)

'No. 512' wall light by Laura Tuorila

(Image credit: TBC)

'Stump' stools by Pasi Kärkkäinen

'Stump' stools by Pasi Kärkkäinen

(Image credit: TBC)

'Pally' stick stool by Laura Väinölä

(Image credit: TBC)

'Marker' by Mikael Mantila

'Marker' by Mikael Mantila

(Image credit: TBC)

'Keikko' markable wall clocks by Muoto2

'Keikko' markable wall clocks by Muoto2

(Image credit: TBC)

Stools by Muoto2

Stools by Muoto2

(Image credit: TBC)

Vintage architect's model in blue

Vintage architect's model

(Image credit: TBC)

Vintage Kartio glasses by Kaj Franck for Nuutajärvi Notsjö

Vintage Kartio glasses by Kaj Franck for Nuutajärvi Notsjö

(Image credit: TBC)

'Nappi' magazine storage by Suomi Soffa

'Nappi' magazine storage by Suomi Soffa

(Image credit: TBC)

Towels by Dora Jung for Lapuan Kankurit

Towels by Dora Jung for Lapuan Kankurit

(Image credit: TBC)

Throws by Dora Jung for Lapuan Kankurit

Throws by Dora Jung for Lapuan Kankurit

(Image credit: TBC)

Classic shelves at the Artek stand

Classic shelves at the Artek stand

(Image credit: TBC)

'Kainu' rocker by Kaarle Holmberg for Kainu

'Kainu' rocker by Kaarle Holmberg for Kainu

(Image credit: TBC)

'Solaris' striped cabinet by Habitek

'Solaris' striped cabinet by Habitek

(Image credit: TBC)

Scatter cushions by Johanna Gullichsen Textile, Craft and Design

Scatter cushions by Johanna Gullichsen Textile, Craft and Design

(Image credit: TBC)

Tattoed scissors by Fiskars

Tattoed scissors by Fiskars

(Image credit: TBC)

New collection at Samuji design studio

New collection at Samuji design studio

(Image credit: TBC)

Inside the Samuji design studio

Inside the Samuji design studio

(Image credit: TBC)

A Samuji bag

(Image credit: TBC)

Finnish worker's houses, Vallila district of Helsinki

One of the many traditional Finnish worker's houses spotted on an architectural tour of the Vallila district of Helsinki

(Image credit: TBC)

The interior of the house, now the home of Samuji creative director, Samu-Jussi Koski

The interior of the house, now the home of Samuji creative director, Samu-Jussi Koski

(Image credit: TBC)

Religious artifacts on the walls of the house

Religious artifacts on the walls of the house

(Image credit: TBC)

A wooden staircase at the house

A wooden staircase at the house

(Image credit: TBC)

Marjukka Takala glassware on show at Design Forum Finland

Marjukka Takala glassware on show at Design Forum Finland

(Image credit: TBC)

Wooden 'Piknik-kit' by Katriina Nuutinen

Wooden 'Piknik-kit' by Katriina Nuutinen, which plays music and contains a set of champagne glasses, on show as part of Hit Happens at the Design Forum Finland

(Image credit: TBC)

dining room with an early version of a wall mounted dimmer switch

Didrichsen Art Museum designed by Viljo Revel. This image shows the dining room with an early version of a wall mounted dimmer switch

(Image credit: TBC)

The living room and winter garden of the Didrichsen Art Museum

The living room and winter garden of the Didrichsen Art Museum

(Image credit: TBC)
Amy Heffernan
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