The choices of the International Friend of Habitare

The International Friend of Habitare in 2019, the president of the Italian design company Alessi, Alberto Alessi, has chosen what he considers to be the most interesting products and phenoma at Habitare. Habitare in under way at Messukeskus in Helsinki from 11 to 15 September 2019.

• I have an extremely good memory of this country. This is my first time in Habitare. Here I can see an attempt to do something new. I have seen a lot of interesting things here and I made the choices out of the most interesting products, Alberto Alessi says about Habitare and Finland.

THE MOST INTERESTING STAND: Hemmo Honkonen (6n4)

• The stand is very simple. Simplicity is typical for Finnish design culture. I was impressed by the products, especially the chair and stool from the Audible furniture I like the simplicity and quality.

THE MOST INTERESTING PRODUCT: Tapio Anttila Stadion-tuoli (6h50)

• The Stadion chair is very simple. What I like about it is the bit of humour in it. Humour and having fun with the designs is rare in Finnish design.

THE MOST INTERESTING MATERIAL: March Design Studio pöytäliina (6m81)

• This tablecloth collection brings something new to the table rituals.

THE MOST INTERESTING CONCEPT: Riot Innovations, Eese-jatkojohto (6n58)

• It has a humble typology which I like. It is good to see something other than chairs and kettles as design products. This is an attempt to create a new typology.

THE MOST INTERESTING PHENOMENON: Rehome Toilet (6n10)

• This is a typology that hasn’t been taken into consideration in design. This is more of a concept rather than a product. The idea that it can be assembled and put in another context seems interesting.

”NEXT”: Next Aaltos / Young Finnish Design (6m8)

• It’s difficult to predict what will come next. Next Aaltos raise some interesting questions. It’s a good question to ask: Who will be the next Aalto? Do we even need a new Aalto?

More information on Habitare:

Messukeskus, communication manager Eva Kiviranta, tel. +358407756609, eva.kiviranta@messukeskus.com

Alessi
Founded in 1921, the Alessi design company specialises in household objects, such as kitchenware, cookware, interior design products and light fittings. Many of Alessi’s thousands of products have achieved an iconic status in the field of contemporary design. Alessi’s mission is to explore advanced cultural, aesthetic and functional ideas and translate these into mass-producible products. Alessi’s products, made of cold-rolled stainless steel, are manufactured at the company’s factory in Crusinallo, Italy. Alessi’s products are sold at 10 brand shops and 200 shops-in-shops all over the world. Alessi’s products are exported to more than 60 countries, and two-thirds of the company’s revenue comes from exports. Under Alberto Alessi’s management in the 1980s, Alessi branched out into new materials and technologies, including manufacturing clocks and bathroom furniture. The most famous Alessi products include the “370” steel wire fruit basket; the “La conica” espresso maker by Aldo Rossi; the “9093” whistling tea kettle by Michael Graves; the “Juicy Salif” citrus squeezer by Philippe Starck; and the “Anna G” corkscrew by Alessandro Mendini.

Habitare
Habitare, the largest furniture, design and interior decoration event in Finland, will be held at Messukeskus in Helsinki, from 11 to 15 September 2019. Habitare offers experiences and ideas on interior decoration, and on the functioning and look of homes and other spaces. Habitare highlights the ideas and works by a new generation of designers, and sparks discussion. The International Friend of Habitare in 2019 is Alberto Alessi. To be held concurrently with Habitare is the Hifi event. | www.habitare.fi | @HabitareFair | www.facebook.com/habitare | #habitare2019