Habitare Materials & Objects exhibition to take Finnish design companies to Milan
Habitare, the leading furniture, design and interior design event in the Nordic countries, will take a number of Finnish design companies to Milan Design Week from 7 to 13 April 2025. The Habitare Materials & Objects exhibition will be featured as part of the Alcova showcase, which has become a hit in Milan in recent years. Milan Design Week is the leading annual meeting place for the design community.
The Habitare Materials & Objects exhibition will be presented as part of Alcova from 7 to 13 April 2025. It is an export initiative in which Habitare, a group of companies, and emerging designers work together to export Finnish expertise to the world.
Habitare Materials was featured for the first time at the Alcova showcase during Milan Design Week in April 2023. At that time, 14 partner companies were involved. The installation-like, participatory exhibition of materials was a success: it stood out, and its exhibition concept, which invited visitors to touch the materials, left its mark on the hearts of the international design audience.
This time, alongside Habitare Materials, the event in Milan will feature Objects, a display presenting Finnish products from furniture to light fittings.
“By staging a joint exhibition, we can help more companies and designers to showcase their work in a major international arena, as it can be difficult for individual designers to get an exhibition slot in Milan. The collaboration enhances the exhibition, producing great encounters and adding an interesting dynamic”, says the creative lead at Habitare and the curator of Objects, Päivi Helander.
The exhibition will feature Arktis, Fiberwood, Durat, Hiil, Koivui, KOTA company, Metsä Fibre, Mölinä, Pihlgren&Ritola, The Friends of Finnish Handicraft, and VM Carpet, as well as the designers Fanni Laukkanen and Roosa Ryhänen.
“Habitare Materials & Objects highlights ethical and ecologically sustainable, Finnish design and material solutions. It is important, especially in the midst of the current economic uncertainty, that Habitare offers companies an opportunity to participate in a high-quality international exhibition”, say Maria Klemetti Laine and Jussi Laine, of NEMO Architects, who curate the Habitare Materials exhibition and are responsible for its exhibition design.
Habitare Materials & Objects will be shown at one of the three venues of the Alcova showcase this spring: a building called Ex Snia, which is a former viscose factory located next to the Varedo railway station.
“The Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre is the leading trade fair and event organiser in the Nordic countries, and through our event expertise, we are able to support our customers and partners in their internationalisation efforts both at events held in Finland and now also internationally. At the same time, we are bringing Habitare to the attention of the international design world and supporting the attractiveness of Finland and Helsinki as interesting design destinations”, says Tanja Pasila, Habitare business lead at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre.
To be held for the fifth time in Milan, the Alcova showcase has become one of the most visited design events in the world in recent years, attracting 90,000 visitors in 2024. It is a platform for experimental and innovative design, bringing together design companies, designers and other industry players from around the world. Alcova is especially known for its unique venues, many of which are abandoned historic buildings or areas, such as former factories, villas, or greenhouses that have been repurposed for exibition use.
More information:
Pia Sievinen, communication & brand, Habitare, pia.sievinen@messukeskus.com, +358 40 559 9155
Images of Habitare Materials & Objects can be downloaded here. Preview images of the exhibition will be completed in week 12.
The Habitare Materials & Objects exhibition will be presented as part of Alcova during Milan Design Week from 7 to 13 April 2025. Habitare, Finland’s leading furniture, design and interior decoration event, will be held at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre from 10 to 14 September 2025. | habitarematerials.com | @habitarefair @habitarematerials | alcova.xyz @alcova.milano
