Habitare 2024 celebrated the layeredness of design
Over five days, Habitare 2024 attracted a total of 45,300 visitors. The leading furniture, interior decoration and design event in the Nordic countries brought together lovers of and professionals in design and interior decoration, and more than 400 exhibitors. The event theme, Layers, highlighted the diversity of Finnish design, reminding us of the cyclicity of design, the revival of styles, and how the old and the new exist side by side every moment.
Habitare 2024 offered visitors an opportunity to explore the layered character of design, follow discussions, make their own creations in workshops, sense the zeitgeist, and meet the creators and companies behind the designs. Over five days, the event brought together more than 45,300 (+ 9%) visitors and 400 companies, representing different generations.
The Layers theme exhibition and the related theme stage, conceived by the design studio Yatofu, offered a new kind of space to pause, listen to discussions, and ask questions. The Habitare Neighbours exhibition, featured for the first time, captivated visitors with its simple beauty and colour palette. The Neighbours residential block, which spread around the exhibition area, brought together a fascinating group of current Finnish design companies.
“The theme for this year’s Habitare, Layers, inspired many meetings and discussions. The notion of the layeredness of design was received as being inclusive and enriching – it feels like the field of Finnish design has been diversified with new voices and new ways of being and creating, and this was beautifully captured by this year’s Habitare”, says Päivi Helander, creative lead at Habitare.
In the Habitare Materials area, visitors from different generations created collages, while in the workshops in the Habitare Choice area, people created objects ranging from lampshades to fragrances. The Block, an area showcasing young designers, demonstrated that Finnish design has an exciting future.
Habitare Pro, the Habitare platform for professionals, continues to grow rapidly and become more international. Habitare Pro included an exhibition that was almost double the size of the one last year, as well as a themed programme including workshops.
“We aim to facilitate meaningful connections and foster growth and business for the entire interior, design, and furniture sector. We are especially delighted with the growth and international steps of Habitare Pro, which combines design and commerce, and the success of the participating companies. Together with the industry, we want to create the leading Nordic meeting place for the sector, and based on the results, we are on the right track”, says the Habitare business manager Tanja Pasila.
Habitare offers a unique opportunity for businesses to meet consumers and professionals
The Danish furniture company Carl Hansen & Søn, making its debut appearance at Habitare, came to the event to tell its story and make the company better known in Finland.
“Our cooperation with Habitare was really smooth. Our needs were understood, and our experience was one hundred per cent a success. We came here to reach consumers. We felt that consumers do not yet know Carl Hansen well enough. Our recognition in Finland has relied on one product – the Wishbone chair – and now we were able to showcase the breadth of our collection. We were able to really get into contact with our customers and discuss products and design more comprehensively”, says Jesper Ekström, area manager at Carl Hansen & Søn, responsible for sales in Finland and the Baltic countries.
The targets were also exceeded in the case of +Halle, a Danish company specialising in furniture for office and public spaces, which also made its debut appearance at Habitare Pro.
“Habitare Pro exceeded all our expectations. It’s been a really good week. All the architects we wanted to meet came here. Next year, we will probably bring other brands to Habitare, as well”, says Jenny Lundén, partner & regional sales director at +Halle.
More information:
Pia Sievinen, communication & brand, Habitare, pia.sievinen@messukeskus.com, +358 40 559 9155
Images of Habitare 2024 can be downloaded here.
Habitare, Finland’s leading furniture, design and interior decoration event, will next be held at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre (Messukeskus) from 10 to 14 September 2025. | habitare.fi | @habitarefair | #habitare2025
