The Habitare Materials & Objects exhibition showcases Nordic materials and objects – featuring 14 trailblazing Finnish design companies and designers
Habitare, the leading furniture, design and interior design event in the Nordic countries, will feature 14 Finnish design companies and designers at Milan Design Week from 7 to 13 April 2025. The Habitare Materials & Objects exhibition, curated by Päivi Helander and NEMO architects, showcases selections of Nordic materials and objects that are shaping the future of design. The exhibition is part of Alcova Milano.
Habitare Materials & Objects will highlight 14 trailblazing Finnish design companies and designers.
Curated by Habitare's creative lead Päivi Helander and NEMO Architects Maria Klemetti Laine and Jussi Laine, the exhibition will showcase materials and objects that shape the future of design. Highlights include new interpretations of the ryijy (a traditional Finnish rug), a chair that questions its function, the new life of construction waste wood as design products, and the many forms of pulp.
The exhibition will feature Arktis Furniture, Fiberwood, Durat, Hiil, KOIVUI®, KOTA Company, Metsä Fibre, Mölinä, Pihlgren ja Ritola, Suomen Käsityön Ystävät, and VM Carpet, as well as designers Fanni Laukkanen, Aino Michelsen, Ville Auvinen, and Roosa Ryhänen.
“Habitare Materials & Objects showcases domestic, ethically and ecologically sustainable design and material solutions. The exhibition Niitty creates space for objects and materials to foster dialogues. The installation forms a hypothetical meadow, where the sprouting objects represent hopeful thoughts of new forms and processes, as well as the vitality of the tradition of craftsmanship. The functional part of the exhibition, Materials, appears as a laboratory-like library, where the featured materials can be experienced and explored by every visitor. The selection of Materials highlights themes of industrial by-products and circular economy”, say Päivi Helander and Maria Klemetti Laine and Jussi Laine of NEMO Architects.
The exhibition architecture designed by NEMO Architects consists of already reused materials that will continue to circulate in future Habitare exhibitions.
Habitare Materials & Objects – companies and designers
Arktis Furniture
Arktis Furniture specialises in producing wooden furniture using detailed techniques for public interiors. Its unique collection includes furniture from four internationally recognised Finnish designers. Arktis introduces a new Huup bench by Jouni Leino, the iconic Kari K3 chair by Kari Asikainen, and a classic sofa, Soru, designed by Mikko Halonen in Milan.
DURAT
Durat solid surface contains up to 50% recycled material and is fully recyclable. Its distinctive appearance comes from crushed granules of industrial surplus plastic. Durable Durat is suitable for various types of furniture. Durat has 35 years of experience in reusing waste plastic, and the Durat Kierto service aims for closed material circulation.
Fiberwood
Fiberwood is a Finnish material technology startup whose products are wood-based materials made from the by-products of the forest industry. Fiberwood aims to inspire architects and designers to push boundaries and create spaces where ecology, aesthetics, and functionality naturally converge.
The Friends of Finnish Handicraft
The Friends of Finnish Handicraft was founded in 1879 by painter Fanny Churberg with the aim of collecting folk textiles and reviving forgotten textile traditions. The company produces high-quality art textiles, especially ryijy rugs, under the guidance of skilled designers. Customers can also order unique, custom-made textiles. The ryijy rugs are made to last, combining high-quality natural materials with the best craftsmanship. These rugs preserve our culture and national heritage.
thefriendsoffinnishhandicraft.com I @suomen_kasityon_ystavat
Hiil Oy
Hiil brings traditional wood charring into modern construction sustainably and beautifully. Using the CircuWood concept, Hiil produces charred wood from industry sidestreams. This weather-resistant, non-toxic, and durable material captures carbon in buildings. The 2025 Iki and Hetki collections feature nine stunning textures and shades for cladding and surface design.
KOIVUI®
KOIVUI® thermally modified panels are an excellent choice for both interior and exterior cladding in all climate conditions. These panels combine elegant design, high quality, and the ecological and responsible nature of the material. Made from Finnish thermally modified pine, the raw material is environmentally friendly, chemical-free, and durable, offering longevity and a beautiful, natural appearance.
KOTA Company
KOTA Company combines timeless Nordic design, superior comfort, and practicality in their sofa beds. The stylish appearance and ingenious design make KOTA sofa beds a perfect choice. The covers are made from 100% recycled materials, and the fabric's durability exceeds 100,000 Martindale cycles. The mattress core is made of firm foam, topped with memory foam to ensure hotel-quality sleep.
kotacompany.com I @kotacompany
Fanni Laukkanen
Fanni Laukkanen, an interior architect from Aalto University, seeks novel approaches to everyday shapes and ideas. Her sustainable design philosophy focuses on creating lasting pieces with functionality, clean aesthetics, and simplified manufacturing techniques. Atelier Laukkanen offers her design services and artistic production.
atelierlaukkanen.com I @fannilaukkanen
Metsä Fibre
Metsä Fibre is a leading producer of wood-based bioproducts, such as pulp, sawn timber, biochemicals, and bioenergy. The products are known for their high quality, based on the unique properties of northern wood. The company's goal is to find new uses for pulp fibre and production side streams that can replace fossil raw materials. New bioproducts are an important part of the bioproduct mill concept and promote sustainability in industrial value chains.
Aino Michelsen & Ville Auvinen
Aino Michelsen and Ville Auvinen are Helsinki-based furniture designers. Since 2023, they have worked together, exploring the possibilities of domestic red clay using the extrusion technique in furniture scale. In their project, they navigate the intersection of design and art, examining the boundaries between functionality and artistic expression.
ainomichelsen.com I studiovilleauvinen.com I @ainomichelsen I @studiovilleauvinen
Mölinä
Mölinä™ is a brand born in the plains of South Ostrobothnia, showcasing craftsmanship, innovation, and beauty. Drawing inspiration from the peace and forms of nature, Mölinä brings northern tranquillity to a noisy world with acoustic products where design and functionality harmoniously meet. Mölinä™ believes in continuous development and challenging conventional boundaries, and we are dedicated to creating the world's most beautiful acoustic products.
Pihlgren & Ritola
The wallpaper factory Pihlgren & Ritola has been producing paper wallpapers using traditional printing techniques since 1930. The wallpapers are still printed using the same methods as in the early days of the factory. The collection includes unique designer wallpapers, treasures from the archives spanning different decades, as well as new shades and patterns. The wallpapers are printed in Finland with environmentally friendly, hand-mixed adhesive colours on genuine paper.
tapettitehdas.com I @tapettitehdas
Roosa Ryhänen
Roosa Ryhänen is a Helsinki-based designer whose work blends industrial and product design, creating objects that exist at the intersection of function and art. Ryhänen favors local production and material sourcing, using Finnish birch and supporting local artisans to minimize environmental impact.
roosaryhanen.com I @roosa.ryhanen
VM Carpet
VM Carpet is a family business that has been producing high-quality rugs in Finland since 1973. Inspired by the beauty of northern forests, natural materials such as paper yarn are central to their design. Paper yarn, made from wood fibres, is an environmentally friendly and durable material that captures the spirit of the forest while enabling highly functional rug solutions. Each rug is tailored to the right shape and size to ensure the utmost satisfaction of the user.
LOCATION AND OPENING TIMES (7—13 April, 2025)
ALCOVA MILANO / FORMER SNIA FACTORY / FROM 11AM TO 7PM
ADDRESS: VIA UMBERTO I, 69, VAREDO (MB)
PRESS ACCREDITATION AND PREVIEW
The press preview will begin at 9:00 AM till 2:00 PM on April 6th.
To attend, press accreditation is required. Here is the link to request press accreditation.
More information:
Pia Sievinen, communication & brand, Habitare, pia.sievinen@messukeskus.com, +358 40 559 9155
Images of the Habitare Materials & Objects exhibition can be downloaded here.
The Habitare Materials & Objects exhibition will be presented as part of Alcova Milano during Milan Design Week from 7 to 13 April 2025. Habitare, the leading furniture, design and interior event in the Nordics, will be held at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre from 10 to 14 September 2025. | habitarematerials.com | @habitarefair @habitarematerials | alcova.xyz @alcova.milano
