Ilmari Tapiovaara (1914-1999) was one of the greatest interior architects and designers of his era. It is often said that he captured the essence of Finnish identity, creating dozens of iconic objects that remain popular to this day.

Tapiovaara graduated from the Department of Furniture Design at the Central School of Applied Arts in Helsinki in 1937. After completing his studies, he worked as an assistant at Le Corbusier’s office in Paris before becoming artistic director and designer at Asko Oy, then one of Finland’s largest furniture manufacturers.

Throughout his long career, Tapiovaara refused to stay within the bounds of traditional furniture design. With interests as wide-ranging as his talents, he created everything from wooden sculptures to film posters and graphics, from sauna stoves to cutlery – even a portable grill. With the mind of an explorer and the soul of a craftsman, he was always looking for new solutions to improve everyday objects.