Known for honest beauty, material simplicity and subtle refinement, a design company from the historical village of Fiskars, Finland, has become a trusted partner for many of the world's leading high-end brands. Nikari announcing the launch of a modified meeting table at this year's Salone del Mobile in Milan from April 8-13.
Founded in 1967 by Finland´s leading cabinetmaker and longtime Alvar Aalto collaborator Kari Virtanen, Nikari prides itself in its harmonious relationship with nature. Focused on woodworking and cabinetmaking, the Finnish design furniture manufacturer embraces both traditional craftsmanship and ecologically sound practices to create products that signal a distinctly Finnish way of life — one that ultimately prides itself in material simplicity, subtle refinement and a peaceful existence with the natural world.
Nikari has become a trusted partner of some of the world's leading high-end brands including Balenciaga, Noma and the V&A Museum
Nikari's reputation of honest beauty has begun to spread globally. In recent years, the Finnish company's clients have included brands such as Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the globally renowned Copenhagen restaurant Noma, Japanese tearooms and Swiss ski resorts. Based in an old machine works building erected in 1837 in the small southern Finnish village of Fiskars, Nikari's modest approach to design is present from the early moments of the design process through to the release of products.
'I think our clients are interested in our values and way of doing things, which is reflected in our furniture as well.' says CEO Johanna Vuorio. 'We like to do fewer things, but to focus on those with 200% effort. Our business model has given us the freedom to prioritise our strategies in sustainability and design processes over the pursuit of mass-production.'
At Salone del Mobile, Milano, Nikari launches The LINEA KVP11, a meeting table that can be modified according to customer's wishes, and it can be combined with almost any chair. Made from birch, ash, or oak, this soundly-constructed solid wooden table has hollow legs, possible to conceal electric wires and other equipment, ensuring a clean and uncluttered look.
Linea is assembled of separate structural parts, and therefore it can be transported through tight spaces. Originally designed decades ago by Kari Virtanen, this table has been brought back from the archives due to its timeless structure and design, making it suitable for any style and era.
The LINEA KVP11 will be presented at Nikari´s B16 stand inside Pavilion 22 along with other Nikari products, including a representation of the Frame Low Coffee Table, the Seminar Desk Table and the Faneeri Folding Chair, which won last year's award for seating design at the Dezeen Awards.
Salone also marks a new partnership between Nikari and Finnish furniture company Poiat. With the new agreement, Poiat products will be transferred to Nikari's ownership. The news of the new ownership is under embargo until April 8 2025. More information about the products in Salone and partnership with Poiat here.
Keeping the high-end cabinetmaking alive
Nikari's office and studio workshop are housed inside an old machine works building erected in 1837 in the historical village of Fiskars. In 2014, Nikari re-equipped the Fiskars river rapids, located directly next to the studio, to produce electricity for the workshop. The leftover wood chips from the production process are utilised for energy generation and occasionally repurposed for innovative applications, such as cultivating shiitake mushrooms at a local farm.
Nikari's commitment to longevity also extends to the team behind their designs. 'Every year, Nikari welcomes young apprentice craftsmen from around the world to train and hone their skills,' Vuorio explains. 'For me, it is profoundly meaningful to preserve this culturally and historically significant legacy of fine woodworking and contemporary design, ensuring this inspiring story continues for future generations. In today's world, simply producing more random design pieces is not enough.'
Pavilion 22 Stand B16, Fiera Milano Rho, S.S. del Sempione 28 - Rho (MI), 8-13 April 2025
More information:
Nikari
www.nikari.fi