Finnish designer, interior architect and professor YrjöKukkapuro His studio statement said he had passed away at the age of 91.
Kukkapuro’s career spans seventy years, he died on February 8, 2025 at his home in Kauniainen.
In their tribute, the studio highlighted the impact of his work, adding that he “never stopped coming up with new ideas.”
“Almost every Finn is sitting on a chair he designed – in a bank, a school or a library. The chairperson, whose plans are clear in his mind. His assistant has no time to paint the chair.”
Born on April 6, 1933 in Vyborg, Finland (now part of Russia), and grew up in Finland after the war, Kukkapuro developed an early interest in art and design.
He continued to study at the Institute of Industrial Arts (now known as Aalto University) in Helsinki, where he trained with influential Finnish designers. During his studies, he was deeply influenced by functionalism and ergonomics, principles that will continue to define his career.
His work has attracted popularity among new audiences in recent months, partly due to the reissue of the iconic experimental chair of Kukkapuro by Swedish brand Hem.
“Yrjö has always been ahead of his time, and as a major pioneer in furniture design, his signature style and thoughtful architecture remain at the forefront,” Hem founder Petrus Palmér said at the time.
Until his death in 2022, Kukkapuro worked in his studio with his wife Irmeli Kukkapuro. According to his daughter, the studio and family designed by Professor YrjöKukkapuro and Eero Paloheimo will be turned into a museum in 2026.