A home for design

Preeti Verma Lal

If design had to find a permanent office, it would certainly pick Helsinki, a city that was tagged World Design Capital in 2012. The Finnish capital is so much into design that it actually has an official Design District. Called a piece of Helsinki and described as ‘a neigbourhood and a state of mind’, the Design District holds the city in its microcosm, creativity, uniqueness, exoticism and urban culture. Spread over 25 streets in Punavuori, Kaartinkaupunki, Kamppi and Ullanlinna areas, it has nearly 150 shops, boutiques, hotels, restaurants, museums — everything lending design a nuanced edge.

One can lose a breath exploring the design shops but there are a few must-dos. At the exceptional Lokal Cafe & Shop, hand-crafted ceramics, furniture, textiles, art pieces fuse with a pinch of coffee. In Taiga Colors, photographer Jutta Kuure transforms her photographs into bags, cushion covers. Her latest collection includes art of Juuso, a brown bear that paints with its paws. Ivana Helsinki has reimagined Moomin, while Kauniste is famous for its calendar kitchen towels. Samuji is the perfect place to find the little black dress; all things classy for the desk are available in Pino.

Beyond the shops, boutiques, vintage shops, and the restaurants lie the design gems — Design Museum, and the Museum of Finnish Architecture. Founded in 1873, the Design Museum is one of the oldest museums in the world with a collection comprising more than 75,000 objects and 1,00,000 drawings. The Museum of Finnish Architecture chronicles the history of Finnish design from the beginnings to the contemporary. 

  A guided walking tour is the best way to explore the Design District but if you want to mosey around solo, pick the design route of your choice — New Living Room (the focus is on Finnish and Scandinavian design with a hint of India in the mix); Sustainable design shopping and local food; Classics are forever (Marimekko, Iittala and Artek); Diamonds and other fancy things; Creative Sunday; Manly shopping tour.

If you think Finnish design lives far off in the Baltics, think again. One is never too far away from anything Finnish. Most currency notes and product labels are made of Finnish paper. Fiskars, the orange-handled sharp pair of scissors, never had competition since these came into being in 1880. Artek Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto, the three-legged modern classic has been copied endlessly since its debut. For many, the word Marimekko is synonymous with design. Reflectors were invented in 1955 when Arvi Lehti purchased a plastic injection moulding machine to produce items, including reflectors for horse carts and carriages. Angry Birds. Nokia, which was born in the Finnish village called Nokia. The Finns invented the ice skates nearly 5,000 years ago.  

According to American art director Paul Rand, “Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that’s why it is so complicated”. In Helsinki, design has found a permanent home.