Dezeen has teamed up with Habitare to capture this year’s edition of the Finnish design fair, showcasing Nordic design and material innovations including a vibrant lime-green structure wrapped in translucent fabric.
The event, which took place in Helsinki, showcased the latest interior design, furniture, lighting and accessories, all under this year’s theme: layers.
Highlights of the Habitare fair were captured by Dezeen in this video
Helsinki-based studio Yatofu created a structural timber installation that aimed to embody the theme through an intricate weave of fabric and wood.
The structure took the form of a semi-transparent cube wrapped in translucent orange textile, which created a space for live talks, workshops and screenings.
Elsewhere in the exhibition, an arched, tunnel-like space invited upcoming Finnish designers to showcase their designs.
This ranged from sculptural candle holders made out of old sauna stones by designer Lennart Engel to interactive wooden toys made out of furniture scraps by designers Rudi and Laura Merz.
The exhibition also showcased a material library curated by Finnish architecture studio Nemo Architects, which presented hundreds of sample materials for visitors to explore through touch and play.
Called Habitare Materials, the library featured local and international pieces of materials used in design and architecture, as well as innovative biomaterials such as textiles made out of seaweed, blocks of fungi and tiles made out of recycled waste.
The reel also captured Habitare Pro, the returning trade and B2B platform, which featured a dome structure and bar crafted entirely from recycled cardboard.
Created by cardboard design company Boardwalk and produced by surface company Grano, the cardboard dome provided a semi-private space amidst the bustling design fair to host interactive workshops and networking events.
Visitors of Habitare Pro were invited to draw and leave messages on all surfaces of the cardboard structure, including the dome itself, its bar, chairs and tables to foster collaboration and interaction within the space.
The exhibition also showcased established Nordic brands such as Marimekko, Finarte and Artek, the furniture studio established by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.
Since its launch in 1970, Habitare is Finland’s leading design fair and live creative event. It will next be held from 10 to 14 September 2025 in Helsinki.
Habitare took place from 11 to 15 September in Helsinki, Finland. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.
Partnership content
This video was produced by Dezeen for Habitare as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen’s partnership content here.
