Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. Department of Design

As Finland celebrates its 100th year of independence, Aalto University School of
Arts, Design and Architecture honors its roots in nature as part of Milan Design
Week.
Aalto University students from the Department of Design are producing an exhibitionentitled
NAKUNA to commemorate Finland’s 100-years of independence at Milan
Design Week April 4-9th, 2017.
The forest is central to the Finnish identity — from the darkest moments of history to
blissful moments of leisure and recreation, the Finnish forest has been standing tall,
protective, nurturing and free for all to roam and enjoy.
Says professor Timo Salli, “Since the early 19th century, Finland’s industrial development
has always been interlocked with forests and
these democratic values of equality and openness. Forests have been the cornerstone of
Finnish life and development for centuries now from timber production and trading, to
shipping and paper machinery. Today, the bio-economy, with its bio-materials, is set to
harness Finland’s ‘green gold’ and start a new chapter in this very old book."
NAKUNA (Fin. naked) represents the very essence of Finland. It's a raw land of lakes,
archipelagos, and forests where the nature and landscape are an intrinsic part of the
spirit of the country and its people. With Finland now entering into its 100th year of
independence, Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture will present an
exhibition at the Milan Design Week to honors that spirit.
The program revisits the Finnish ancestral connection to the forest as a source of food,
emotional sustenance and technological ingenuity as well as a haven for peaceful
reflection and contemplation. With its three main installations - IKKUNA (Fin. window),
everyman’s right kiosk LAAVU (Fin. Lean-to) and MANIFESTO -, the NAKUNA exhibition
takes its audience on a sensory journey through Finland’s historical development; its
deep-seated values and attributes, all the principles which make Finland such a unique
place. The exhibition exposes the core values of Finnishness and encourages people to
be open, naked, and honest for themselves and for others — values that are particularly
relevant today when the world shows its increasing turbulence.
In addition to the NAKUNA exhibition, Habitare, the largest furniture, interior decoration
and design fair in Finland, will curate a speaker series on the theme of 'tomorrow's
home'. Habitare's long association with Aalto University, and the theme of Habitare 2017,
'tomorrow's home', make for a natural basis for the cooperation in Milan. The NAKUNA
Showroom in Milan will highlight important Finnish values related to issues such as
nature, origin, safety, climate, welfare, energy, and technology. The same values and
issues are also related to the future of housing.
The exhibition runs 4-9.4.2017. It is designed for everyone with interests in contemporary
design, transparency, openness, honesty, naturality, pureness, body language,
humanity, and equality. The group of designers wants to offer each visitor a unique,
vibrant, sensory experience accompanied with tasty forest flavors directly from Finland.Aalto University´s Department of Design will present “NAKUNA” Exhibition / Showroom.

Aalto University is a community of bold thinkers where science and art meet technology
and business. We are committed to identifying and solving grand societal challenges and
building an innovative future. Aalto University has six schools with nearly 20 000 students
and more than 400 professors. Our campuses are located in Espoo and Helsinki, Finland
www.aalto.fi

About Habitare
Habitare, the largest furniture, interior decoration and design fair in Finland, will be held
at Messukeskus in Helsinki, from 13 to 17 September 2017. Habitare offers experiences,
ideas, and information about interior decoration, and about the functioning and look of
homes and other spaces. The International Friend of Habitare 2017 is the Representative
Director of MUJI, Masaaki Kanai
www.habitare.fi

Habitare @ NAKUNA 'Tomorrow's Home' Design Talks.
Habitare is the main cooperation partner and co-producer of these events. Habitare, the largest furniture,
interior decoration and design fair in Finland.