Born to artistic parents, Tove’s first illustrations were published when she was just 14 years old. “I’m working” was a phrase that cropped up frequently in her diaries, even at this young age – and referred to anything from drawing to actively seeking ideas. She studied at Stockholm’s University College…
Tag: Helsinki
Aalto University wins award for new cotton recycling technique
Researchers from the School of Arts, Design and Architecture and the School of Chemical Technology at Helsinki’s Aalto University have won the top H&M Global Change Award for a recycling technique that converts waste-cotton into new textiles. The conversion of the existing ‘Ioncell-F process’ to enable the recycling of waste-cotton…
creative spaces :: studio aalto
My last creative spaces post was about Aalto House, where Finnish architect Alvar Aalto lived from 1935 until 1976 and worked from 1935 until 1956. As promised, this is the follow up post on the space he moved to in 1956, which I was also lucky enough to visit while…
confessions of a design geek :: the best of 2013
2013 has been a year of incredible highs and some fairly massive personal lows. It was a year in which my career choice has enabled me to be there for my family, for which I’m really grateful. And it’s also the second year I’ve been able to make a living…
creative spaces :: aalto house
Way back when I started writing my blog in April 2010, I worked on an old school desk in a corner of my bedroom. I had space for two or three inspirations pictures stuck on the wall above it. One of those pictures was a page torn from an interior…
interview :: aino-maija metsola
One of the highlights of my trip to Helsinki earlier this year was a visit to Marimekko House where all things Marimekko are designed and made. I was lucky enough to interview in-house designer Aino-Maija Metsola. We talked inspirations, ways of working, and finding just the right colour… What’s the most important thing…
out and about :: young nordic architecture
One of the things I was really keen to see when I originally planned my trip to Helsinki was Light Houses: Young Nordic Architecture, an exhibition at the Museum of Finnish Architecture. I love seeing new designers’ work and this was a rare opportunity to see the work of lots…
photos of numbers :: 4,12,12, 4, 10 & one
I’m particularly pleased with this week’s photos of numbers collection – the first one’s a blinder, isn’t it?! Knitting needles in a charity shop! The second one was on a tree in the National Trust’s Winkworth Arboretum (kind of like a zoo for trees to you and me!), and the…
out and about :: rakennetaan puutarha (let's build a garden)
The Design Museum and the Museum of Finnish Architecture sit on parallel streets, facing in opposite directions. The space between them is filled with a little courtyard, and at the moment, that courtyard is filled with a little garden. “Rakennetaan puutarha” or “Let’s build a garden” is a pop-up urban…
out and about :: rakennetaan puutarha (let’s build a garden)
The Design Museum and the Museum of Finnish Architecture sit on parallel streets, facing in opposite directions. The space between them is filled with a little courtyard, and at the moment, that courtyard is filled with a little garden. “Rakennetaan puutarha” or “Let’s build a garden” is a pop-up urban…
photos of numbers :: 20, 20 & A16
This week’s photos of numbers selection is a sneak preview of my upcoming post on Alvar Aalto’s house and studio, because that’s where all three of these numbers were spotted… …the two number 20s are both his house number – one from the wall outside and one from the door…
photos of numbers :: 20, 20 & A16
This week’s photos of numbers selection is a sneak preview of my upcoming post on Alvar Aalto’s house and studio, because that’s where all three of these numbers were spotted… …the two number 20s are both his house number – one from the wall outside and one from the door…
out and about :: helsinki architecture
Before I get into more in-depth posts about Helsinki, I just had to share some pictures of all the fabulous architecture I spotted – and don’t worry – there’s lots more of Mr Aalto to come! From top to bottom, left to right… Kiasma is Helsinki’s Museum of Contemporary Art,…
photos of numbers :: 2, 22 & 2
This week’s collection of numbers is from my recent trip to Helsinki and is all twos! The first one was very early in the morning in the apartment I was staying in – I love the sun on the wall. The second one is a shop on Fredrikinkatu – I thought…
out and about :: helsinki design district
I’ve only been in Helsinki for 24 hours at the time of writing and I already love it. This collection of photos is from my first two hours alone! Lots more detailed posts to follow – I promise! From top to bottom and left to right… A trip to Finland…
out and about :: helsinki
confessions of a design geek is off to Helsinki! I saw this film, applied and was selected as one of ten bloggers from over 350 applications to spend a week in Finland, courtesy of Visit Finland. I’ve been chosen for the “Architecture and Design in Helsinki” itinerary, staying a loft apartment…