3 - HIQ

Design Philosophy & Design Works
Design Philosophy
Design Works
From 1956-2012
DESIGN ROOTS
Open-air museum Helsinki, displayed rural life style of Finland in 200 years ago,
Yrjo Kukkapuro`s hometown was in the east of Finland, his grandfather`s home
was very similar to this museum`s interior.
Yrjo Kukkapuro always think that his design was influced by this kind of
simplified and ascetic environment. His studio was built in 1960s, which is the
crustalization of pop art at that time as he said.
Yrjo Kukkapuro think if he was living in his grandfather`s house, he might be a
solid wood cabinter.
But instead, his own working studio and surroundings around it which
influenced his design during his whole design career.
Open-air museum Helsinki
Studio Kukkapuro Heslinki
1950s, Student time
1955-1956 Yrjo begins to get many design prizes
1956 Yrjo Kukkapuro and Mauri Enestam established his own factory-Moderno
factory.
1956 Lokki chair made in Moderno factory
Finland was still experiencing the Second World War recession. Strips cut from old car
tyres were commonly used for springs. Natural latex foam as padding doesn’t stand
exposure to air and light but decades.
1950s, Student time
“Antti Nurmesniemi chose this unique student work at University of Art and
Design for the ”Tulevaisuuden koti (Home of the Future)” -exhibition in 1957 in
Helsinki. This was actually a starting point for Yrjo Kukkapuro`s career as a
designer.”
This is also the first time that the name of Yrjo Kukkapuro became famous in
Finland.
1957 LUKKU chair
1957 exhibition
1950s, Student time
1957 YLEIS chair
1957 Leather chair
1959-1960 TRIENNALE chair
1956-1960 Moderno searies
1950s, Student time
1960
Mauri Enestam became ill and a large furniture factory(Lepo) bought the whole
line of products. It had been developed in 1958-1959, but Yrjo had been
dreaming for a long time of making a fibreglass design, but it was impossible for
a poor student of design to obatin resin and fibre.
So Kukkapuro tried use curving tube and thin plywood attached on the frame
with rivets.
At this time, Kukkapuro`s older fellow student Erik Uhlenius
asked if he can design a chair for a shoestore which he
designed the interior.
Moderno series had been sold in immense
numbers, in the 1960s alone something like million
items to Soviet Union.
1960s, Fibreglass time
419
1961 Kukkapuro designed a very successful chair 419
This is the first chair that Kukkapuro used fibreglass in his design.
1960s, Fibreglass time
1963-1964 Ateljee collection
This is the first products of cooperation between Yrjo Kukkapuro and Haimi, the first
protype of Ateljee was a box and with some cushion in it which was for Kukkapuro`s
home.
After Haimi saw it, he suggest Yjor kukkapuro to develop it as a Sofa and an armchair,
the structure of this sofa was inspired by metal Heteka bed. Then kukkapuro used steel
tube and rubber strings, and two side panels t make it looks like a sofa and an arm chair. 。
1964 exhibited in Colonge fair, very successful.
1965 Haimi company`s dealer took this sofa for a exhibition in MOMA.
1965 Permanently collected by MOMA .
1960s, Fibreglass time
In 1960s, Kukkapuro continued to develop his fibreglass chair designs alongside his other
work, it was later given its well-know name, Karuselli. Kukkapur worked on it for about 4
years, from end of 1950s until 1962, the final product was ready in 1964.
The fist prototype was from thin metal netting covered with snackcloth dipped in plaster
to create a kind of shell, rather like an eggshell, by adding plaste and carving, finally
achieved a form for this chair.
Permanently collected by: MOMA,V&A, Vitra design museum.
1960s the era of fiberglass and plastic
Kukkapuro said no designer is crasy like him, after designing Karuselli in 1964, he
designed a large number of fibreglass and plastic products. They have different size and
can be used in many area, such as home, hotel, office. They came out quickly in order to
meet the market requirements.
1960s the era of fiberglass and plastic
After designed fiberglass and plastic chair for about 7 to 8
years in 60’s. Kukkapuro thought these material do harm to
environment and human healthy, it would be instead by other
materials. The steel tube products is out of fashion from 1950s.
Plastic products is booming, so as to Bauhaus steel furniture
and Aalto design is not popular any more in the sixties.
Finnally, kukkapuro choose steel tube to design
Remmi, its vertical and horizontal tube,spring lines is
remodeled Ateljee. The spring line of Remmi is same
to Ateljee’s, however, it changed into steel spring
after a Denmark steel spring factory entered Finland
marke which make Remmi more elegant and
beautiful.
Marcel Breuer（1902-1981）
Mies der Rohe（1886-1969）
1930 President of Bauhaus
School
1970s Oil crisis, the era of plywood
In 1973, the plastic furniture development stopped since oil crisis. Designer stopped to
use oil products as material when designed.
Kukkupuro worked in Hammi company and Lepo Oy as chief designer, designing and
developing new products.
After oil crisis, Kukkapuro turned to plywood, he thought it is good for environment and
human health and have great advantage in Finland. However, the plywood craft were
almostly overwhelmed by plastic technology. The factory Korhonen Oy used to
manufature plywood for Alvar Aalto and other plywood factory cannot manufacture it.
Finally, they found Backman factory which manufactured plywood plates and have a
electric heating and pressing machine equipment.
The original mould for Plaano-chair was made of aluminium and very expensive.
Therefore the form had to be very simple and multipurpose. With the same mould it was
possible to make different size chairs and armrests.
1970s Oil crisis, the era of plywood
1974 The first plywood products-Plaano
Kukkapuro quitted designing plastic chairs after the oil crisis in Europe in year 1973 and moved on to birch
plywood pressure forming. Hammi company paid expensive mould cost and developed it. In the beginning,
many people doubted its strength, it proved that the interlacing pressed plywood is steadily, undeformed,
uncracked and the armrest connection won’t be damaged.
Plaano was firstly designed for hotel and restaurant, later Kukkapuro
designed office chair to meet with the more and more office needs. In
the past 20 years, the average sales amount is 10,000 piece per year,it is
a special story in Finnish design history.
1970s Oil crisis, the era of plywood
1976 Fysio
The third year after developing Plaano, Backman company have high frequency pressure
machine, which could press the plywood with wooden mold and steel plate, no need to
use the high price aluminum mold. Meanwhile, Kukkapuro is designing a products which
have beautiful shape according to human being’s shape. Fysio which is meet with
ergonomic was developed.
Yrjo Kukkapuro had the strong
conviction about chairs that “they
should reflect the shape of a
person’s body as closely as possible,
they should be soft like the human
body and, if possible, every bit as
beautiful.”
He said thanks to the god, giving
him the chair designer’s body, so he
is a good model to test the
comfortable level of chair.
1980s Postmodernism period
In early 80s, the director of Hammi resigned from the operation work, and the
employees bought the company. Later Hammi company changed its name into Avarte Oy.
1980s is the era of economic prosperity, there are many new company and also the new
products came out. Kukkapuro also developed many products which influenced by
postmodernism.
1980 Kukkapuro designed the first products cooperated with Avarte Oy---Skaala.
In 1960, Kukkapuro made the fist model of Skaala and after making some improvement in
1970s, the Skaala chair was developed in 1980s.
1980s Postmodernism period
Fysio was designed in asceticism and new scictechnology era. However, it is too big to
put in some office area. Kukkapuro designed sirkus series which can be used in many
different office area.
1981-1984 Sirkus series
In the era of postmodernism, Kukkapuro used the elements of postmodernism into the
design of sirkus which made the products colorful.
1982-1983 Experiment chair
Experiment chair
Sirkus series components
1980s Postmodernism period
1985-1987 A series
It was originally designed for a Swedish hospital with functional and yet decorative pieces.
On the basis of SKKALA, Kukkapuro found a totally new design-form and colour-language
in the hospital surroundings, and incorporated in the structural elements, they can change
the colours of the chairs free of charge.
And then, the chairs had been intended for use in every kind of homes, office, and other
public places, they combined practicality with a wild Finnish type of colourful play.
A502
A505
A509
1990s Economic despressions and ecology periodc
In 1980s, Kukkapuro mainly designed public furniture and interior area(office,lobby,
hospital,auditorium and so on).The home furniture design was suspend. They are widely
used at home, and other different public area by architect.
1991-1992 Funktus auditorium chair
Kukkapuro was invited to design an auditorium chair for the
new Opera House in Helsinki. Simplicity, comfort, elegance was
totally the elements of Scandinavia’s design culture. This
auditorium chair should have a strong character, almost a
mathematical shape and also match with the arc lines of the
opera house.
The original model has been fitted well with the new Opera
House and then developed into a big series of seating furniture.
This collection is suitable for many kinds of areas.
eg. 532、534、542、544、552、554 and so on.
1990s Economic despressions and ecology period
1993 Economic recession in Europe.
1993-1995 “ecology” is the most fashional word like “post-modernism”in 1980s.
In the nineties, Kukkapuro’s design was infulenced by
ecology.He used less materials on its design and also choose
the cheaper material. Such as CNC and Pressu chair, Pressu
is composed of canvas and solid wood frame.
1990s Economic despressions and ecology period
1995 Kukkapruo held many space arts exhibitions and cooperated with many graphic
designers.
In the beginning of 90s, NELONEN（4）
In 1991, Kukkapuro cooperated with graphic designer Tapani Aartomaa and designed many
tatooed chairs. After that, Avarte Oy, Yrjo Kukkapuro and AGI (The Alliance Graphique
Internationale) worked together and made seventy six tatooed chairs, all being personal
expressions of the graphic arts.
NELONEN 4
2011- Ecological design
Kukkapuro considered that ecology takes an important role in the furture design.
Kukkapuro designed many products which express ecological idea, such as CNC sofa, R
chair. The structures are simple, easy to be assembled, transported and packed.
Meanwhile, he also choose the ecological material, such as MDF and bamboo.
2012- Ecological design
Cooperation with Architects
Architect : Pekka Salminen, 2001
Architect: Fang Hai,2004
2004
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