Antti Nurmesniemi

Antti Nurmesniemi was a Finnish interior architect and industrial designer, and one of the influential figures of the design generation that laid the foundation for the concept of Finnish Design in the 1950s and 60s. His work was characterized by rationality, functionality, and an uncompromising respect for everyday usability.

Nurmesniemi's career was remarkably diverse, spanning the restoration of historical sites, the interior design of major public buildings, everyday objects, and modern furniture. One notable example of his broad expertise is the interior design of the Helsinki metro trains – a project that seamlessly combined the disciplines of interior architecture and industrial design. For Antti, ease of use was always the starting point.

After graduating from the Institute of Industrial Arts (now Aalto University), he worked at architect Viljo Revell’s office from 1951 to 1956. During this time, he designed, among other projects, the sauna section of Hotel Palace, where he created the now-iconic horseshoe-shaped sauna stool. In 1956, he founded his own practice, Studio Nurmesniemi. His first independent project was the Pehtoori coffee pot, which later became a design classic.

One of his most personally significant works was the couple’s atelier home in Kulosaari, Helsinki — completed in 1975. In the 1980s, Antti also designed a series of furniture pieces, including the 004 armchair, which has since become a classic of modern Finnish design.

Throughout his career, Nurmesniemi received numerous national and international honors. He won the prestigious Lunning Prize in 1959 and designed Finland’s exhibitions at the Milan Triennale in 1960 and 1964 — both of which were awarded the coveted Grand Prix. He was a respected teacher and lecturer at several universities and served actively in various cultural boards and committees.