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Hi, Päivi! How are you?
“I’m at an inspiring stage in my long career in the creative industry. In recent years, I’ve established a balance between a certain persistent feeling of incompleteness and haste and learned, professionally, to focus on things that feel truly significant. Or, then I’ve just learned to put up with chaos and surprises in life.
This year, I’ve worked in inspiring and skilled teams and engaged in projects related to design, interior design and architecture in particular as well as taught at Aalto University. The highlight of the year was the Venice Biennale of Architecture, where I was part of a working group for the Finnish pavilion and participated in a project called New Standards related to standardized post-war wood construction. Teaching has also led me towards something new: the discussions and encounters with students have broadened my horizons and given me so much.
My earliest childhood memory has to do with colors, and my life-long love of colors culminated in the collection of basic interior paint colors I designed for Cover Story. When several of my projects involve color design, I feel like I’m back home.”
How are you going to spend Christmas this year?
“I’m far from being a Christmas person. Or a person who likes to celebrate Midsummer, May Day or Easter. These kinds of “forced celebrations” do not go well with my individualistic nature. However, in recent years, I’ve definitely become a December person, as it is a month of all kinds of warm encounters and small festivities.
I love trees and have a childlike, emotional attitude to their felling. Since I don’t want to have a Christmas tree at our home, I’ve established this tradition of taking a walk in Seurasaari, Helsinki, with my children and having a picnic under some lovely, old tree together. After the trip, we make a donation to forest conservation.”
“The best gifts have been beautiful moments spent together, like cooking and decorating gingerbread with the children.”
What’s the best Christmas gift you have ever got?
“Most definitely my son, who was born just before Christmas in 2008. He’s an amazing guy and the best company. The best gifts have been beautiful moments spent together, like cooking and decorating gingerbread with the children, seeing Nutcracker performed by Finnish National Ballet, in which my skilled daughter is a dancer, and leisurely reading. There can never be too many good nonfiction books or novels!
Last year, my friends gave me a wooden doll designed by Alexander Girard. From the comprehensive selection of great wooden dolls by Vitra, they managed to select the individual that delights me every day with its appearance.”