Habitare 2026

Details

Habitare, the leading furniture, design and interior event in the Nordics, will next be held at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre from 2 to 6 September 2026.

Habitare Talents 2026 highlights four multidisciplinary creators from the new generation of designers who move seamlessly between artistic practice, design, and craftsmanship. The work of Iina Kettunen, Waltter Mahlberg, Carlo Raymann, and Rita Vaali emphasizes a creative union of form, material, and craftsmanship that challenges traditional design.

The designers of Habitare Protos 2026 move boldly between categories. A functional object can be like a work of art, a lamp or mirror like a sculpture, and an acoustic element like a painting. Together, they reflect on what an object can express through its material, form, and production method.

Material choices highlight awareness of origin and impact: recycled plastic composite, algae collected from the Baltic Sea, natural fibers, and traditional craft techniques reflect a desire to make better choices from a lifecycle perspective. Sustainability also implies an emotional connection: memories, bodily experiences, and a sense of home.

The exhibition is curated and produced by Saara Renvall and Elina Aalto. This year's jury also included Habitare Creative Lead Päivi Helander and guest member Reeta Laine, a designer featured in the Habitare Talents 2025 exhibition.

Featured Designers & Works
A SHEET OF MIRROR (Studio D-ja / Yi-Chiao Tien & You-Chia Chen)

CNC-cut from a single sheet of Durat recycled plastic composite, this mirror sculpture explores the boundary between 2D material and 3D objects along a single continuous cut line.

KRUNA (Hanna Larissa Klie)
Inspired by long sunsets and the hues of Helsinki’s Kruununhaka district, this tufted textile work functions as wall art and an acoustic element.

HÄIVE (Netta Kandelin)
A curtain/room divider combining wooden veneer with translucent textile, creating a dialogue between light, shadow, openness, and shelter.

BARNACLE (Viivi Hirvikangas, Olli Majalahti & Yudai Toyama)
A lamp made with handmade paper derived from Cladophora algae harvested from the Baltic Sea to help combat eutrophication by removing excess nutrients.

PAPILIO (Petra Lahti)
A modular lamp balancing sculpture and utility, combining metal and fabric to create a contrasting yet delicate interaction.

A LITTLE SOMETHING SHELF (Studio Oi / Olya Tsikhanchuk & Iiro Tujula)
A bold, simple shelf designed to display important items—part art object, part functional shelf.

HOME (Riikka Peltola)
A wall textile reinterpretating traditional tapestries. Made of cotton-linen warp partly dyed with red and yellow onion skins.

THIS LAMP HAS FEELINGS (Julia Postrzech)
A steel lighting collection referencing human nature and our tendency to attribute human traits to inanimate objects.

ULPU (Laura Grönlund)
A nature-inspired wall lamp honoring Finnish glassblowing traditions, evoking memories of summer days and shimmering water.

PICK ME BOWL (Julia Postrzech & Emma Sjöholm)
A multifunctional serving object combining characteristics of a plate, tray, and fruit basket.