Two major awards granted in Habitare’s EcoDesign Exhibition

The international eco exhibition includes designers from 12 countries and almost 100 designs. The event features some top names and promising new designers. The light theme is a natural continuation of the eco chair exhibition of 2009. Lighting is an essential element of interior decoration.

The range of materials is extensive, including unique and mass production-intended products from wood, glass, metal, and plastic. Designers have also been inspired by recycling and energy efficiency. One extreme phenomenon on display is Tapio Anttila’s modern shingle lighting fixture.

Ingo Maurer’s own eco lighting fixture on display

Lighting fixture designer Ingo Maurer’s ideas concerning light and its significance have transformed lighting design from the 1960s. His trademarks are the winged incandescent light bulb, Lucellino (1989), and many other visual ideas paying homage to Edison’s classic invention. We will also see his own idea of an eco lighting fixture in the EcoDesign exhibition.

In addition to Ingo Maurer, many other nationally and internationally known designers will take part in the EcoDesign exhibition’s opening day, including last year’s EcoDesign curator, Yrjö Kukkapuro, architect Vesa Honkonen (designer of e.g. the Kiasma chair), Tapio Anttila, scrap designer Henrik Enbom, Eeva Lithovius, and many others.

The most interesting designers of the exhibition will be rewarded

The fact that two awards will be granted in the opening ceremony also speaks for the significance and necessity of ecological design. The Finnish Fair Foundation will grant a prize worth EUR 5,000 to one of the exhibition’s designers. Curator Ingo Maurer will decide the winner and personally present them with the award.

The EcoDesign exhibition’s main sponsor, Sampo Private Banking, will grant the ”Tavanomaista enemmän 2010” (”More than Usual 2010”) award worth EUR 2,000 to a Finnish designer. Ingo Maurer will select the winning product, and Southern Finland’s Sampo Private Banking Director Tiina Roschier will present the award.

Both award winners will be announced in the EcoDesign press conference in the EcoDesign area (stand 4a21) on 1 September at 10:45 a.m.

For further information, please contact:
Advertising Agency Valo Ltd. Jari Pirhonen, mail@mainostoimistovalo.fi , tel. +358 50 525 7062
The Finnish Fair Corporation, Communications Officer Johanna Peltola, tel. +358 9 1509 249, johanna.peltola@finnexpo.fi

Get accredited for Habitare in advance at http://www.finnexpo.fi/press/press_conf_form.asp?Id=416&code_language=fi

Habitare, Finland's largest furniture, interior decoration and design fair, at Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre on 1-5 September 2010. Open to professionals 1–2 September and to the public 2–5 September 2010. In conjunction with Habitare, there will be three other events: Valo, ArtHelsinki and Designpartners100. Visitors gain admission to all events with one ticket. Tickets: EUR 13/9. www.habitare.fi/en

The designers of the EcoDesign Special Exhibition, situation 19.8.2010

Andersson Katarina Sweden
Barber Edward & Osgerby Jay UK
Borrione Bruno & Sportes Cedric France/Canada
Borselius Stefan Sweden
Cárdenas Roberto Chile/Sweden
Claesson & Koivisto & Rune Sweden
Cocksedge Paul UK
Dahlström Björn Sweden
Feiz Khodi The Netherlands
Godoy Emiliano Mexico
Gustafson Gabriella & Ståhlbom Mattias Sweden
Gustafsson Bäckstrand Marie-Louise & Fröberg Ottemo Frida Sweden
Hai Fang China
Haoming Zhou & Tao Jie China
Hederström Louise Sweden
Holén Nanni Sweden
Hong Ying & Luo Pingjia & Zhu Li & Tian Mi China
Häll Katarina & Edis Philip Sweden
Kermik Jüri UK/Estonia
Laarman Joris The Netherlands
Martin Haldane South Africa
Maurer Ingo Germany
Michel Daniel Germany
Nash Heath South Africa
Nichetto Luca Italy
Pauwels Yves Belgium
Rashid Karim USA
Santilli Stefano UK
Smedt De Julien Belgium
Szyber Sara Sweden
Tokujin Yoshioka Japan
Toussaint Jacques Italy
Xiaojie Zhu China
Yaozheng China
Yong Tang & Xue Zhong China

Aarnio Eero Finland
Anttila Tapio Finland
Elo Susan Finland
Enbom Henrik Finland
Hakaniemi Jonas Finland
Hakkarainen Aleksi Finland
Harni Pekka & Takahashi Yuka Finland
Henk & Honk Finland
Heikkilä Simo Finland
Hoisko Timo & Halkosaari Teemu Finland
Honkonen Vesa Finland
Huuskonen Sami Finland
Inki-Ihamäki Merja Finland
Iso-Pärnä Matti Finland
Isotalo Jukka Finland
Jaakkonen Liisa & Myyryläinen Raisa & Helve Jussi Finland
Janovic Rozalia Finland
Järvi Teemu & Ruoho Heikki Finland
Järvisalo Jouko Finland
Kankkunen Matti Finland
Kantonen Raimo Finland
Karhunen Teemu Finland
Koho Seppo Finland
Korpela Matti Finland
Kukkapuro Yrjö Finland
Lahtua Toivo Finland
Laine Tero Finland
Lindfors Stefan Finland
Lithovius Eeva Finland
Lätti Juha Finland
Mantila Mikael Finland
Marjamaa Teija Finland
Merz Rudi Finland
Metsätalo Ville Finland
Naamanka Samuli Finland
Niskanen Timo Finland
Paakkanen Mikko Finland
Patel Jitan V Finland
Pänkäläinen Pasi Finland
Pått Irina Finland
Pietilä Jesse Finland
SEOS Design Finland
Ripatti Timo Finland
Salovaara Juhani Finland
Suppanen Ilkka Finland
Svärd Jori Finland
Taskinen Ahti Finland
Tuominen Terhi Finland
Varjoranta Kimmo Finland
Vesmanen Esa Finland
Walta Henry Finland
Wiherheimo Yrjö Finland
Zweygberg Eija Finland