YRJÖ KUKKAPURO, a 1960's 3-piece sofa suite for Karihaaran Saha.
Lacquered pine.
Sofa; Length 160 cm. Height to seat 32 cm. Height 66 cm. Depth 79 cm.
Armchair; Width 84 cm. Height to seat 32 cm. Height 66 cm. Depth 79 cm.
Table; 75x75 cm. Height 51 cm.
Partly worn. Marks and stains. Cushions missing.
Kemi Oy has had log cabin production at the Karihaara sawmill. The log cabins were exported for example to Japan. Furnishings designed by Yrjö Kukkapuro could be ordered as accessories for the cottages. In Kemi Oy's staff housing, were the furniture mainly used in the sauna area.
Yrjö Kukkapuro is a Finnish interior architect and furniture designer with a prolific career spanning over 65 years. He gained fame primarily through his experimental design and ergonomic philosophy, focusing on ecological values and the inherent qualities of materials. Born in 1933 in Vyborg, Kukkapuro studied at the University of Art and Design Helsinki, later becoming a teacher there. Eventually, he served as the rector from 1978 to 1980.
Kukkapuro is perhaps best known for his chairs, with one of the most famous being the "Karuselli" from 1964. The chair was dubbed the "Most Comfortable Chair in the World" by The New York Times in 1974 and is part of the permanent collections at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.