nikari oy celebrates 50th anniversary at stockholm furniture fair

finnish furniture manufacturer nikari oy is celebrating its 50th anniversary at the stockholm furniture fair this year, marking its fifth decade of telling stories through craft. combining high quality, locally sourced wood, and mixing traditional methods and state-of-the-art technolgies, nikari pieces are exemplars of finnish design. recently, nikari manufactured the frames and furniture for airbnb housing concept ‘KOTI’ unveiled at the spring 2017 edition of maison et objet, and in the past worked alongside OOPEAA to recreate a finnish and chinese pavilion at the shenzhen bi-city biennale for urbanism and architecture.

kaj franck was taken in by the studio’s unique ostrobothnian style
all images courtesy of nikari oy

exhibiting a long legacy of design at this year’s stockholm furniture fair, the history of nikari has always been one of collaboration. founded in 1967 by cabinet maker kari virtanen in a region of finland known as ostrobothnia, the traditional craftsmanship and scare rustic style of the studio attracted the attention of professor kaj franck, hailed as the father of modern finnish design. a long collaboration between franck and virtanen led to a number of small pieces, and informed the manufacturer’s process going forward.

kaj franck and a young kari virtanen

soon after the studio was begun, virtanen also worked alongside architect and designer alvar aalto. it set the stage for for virtanen to become one of finland’s most sought after cabinet makers, his restrained hand creating forms that evolve from function rather than style. his work has received a number of accolades in the past, including the 2005 design state award in finland and the bruno mathsson award for nordic design, and his work is on display in the kiasma museum of contemporary art in helsinki.

the december chair was designed by jasper morrison and wataru kumano

created by jasper morrison and wataru kumano, the december chair follows a simple design that is assembled by following a set of basic instructions. ‘we talked about the pleasure in making things and the idea of a chair that could be bought in a box and built at home’, says the duo. the december chair is anchored by its pre-assembled seat, to which the legs and back rest are attached using both glue and screws. ‘it’s a basic but comfortable low chair with a slightly rural character and definite scandinavian influence, the kind of chair you would have in a country house near the fire, though it could work in a city apartment or a hotel lobby just as well.’

the july chair mimics the inherent imperfections of the natural world

the july chair is a wooden stool, created to mimic the inherent imperfections of the natural world. arranged as what resembles a cluster of toadstools, the seat is made from a combination of three circular pieces. ‘like a bundle of wooden logs, three individual ‘slices’ — unequal in size, variegated in grain and color, and uneven surface angles — unite to create a beautiful, singular form’, explains nao tamura, the designer behind the chair. finished with a natural oil mixture, the piece is made from a combination of elm and oak.

the february table is a modest piece, formed from basic shapes and curving lines

created by thomas sandell for nikari, the february table is a modest piece, formed from basic shapes and curving lines. conceived as part of nikari’s project 2012 designs for nature, the table can be easily carried using its wooden handle, and is weighed down at the bottom by a hockey-puck shaped jet black stone. sandell describes it simply as ‘a nice little table with a weight’.

alfredo häberli, who designed the april table, employs a mixture of ash, oak and birch across the family

the design of the april table focused around reconciling its large base with its comparatively slight top. alfredo häberli, who designed the piece, employs a mixture of ash, oak and birch across the family, a selection which leads to a variety of hues across the range. ‘it is always a delicate task to make unique objects,’ says kari nyyssönen, the cabinet maker who worked on manufacturing the collection. ‘the design of april tables meant a lot of improvising and traditional working methods.’

built from ash, the arte marfa stool is available in 2 finishes: a brooding black stain or a more natural presentation

the arte marfa ‘twist’ stool was conceived for nikari by stockholm practice claesson koivisto rune. built from ash, the stool is available in two finishes: a brooding black stain or a softer, more natural presentation. the form of the stool is both angular and fluid, with three separate panels meeting in the beneath the lid to create a twisted central structure.

the history of nikari has always been one of collaboration