Music has often been an important source of inspiration to Finish designer Mikko Paakkanen (born 1975) and the shape for his sculptural Oak Stool is found in the form of sound waves. Made of one single piece of solid burnt oak, hand-sculpted by Mikko Paakkanen himself, this piece is revealing the designers double training as a designer from the University of Design in Helsinki and as a master cabinet-maker.
Big Stool imposes itself in space as a functional sculpture, communicating the playful feeling of an oversized check pawn or a stamp. The combination of organic form and beautifully sculpted wood makes this piece an important contemporary contribution to the noble tradition of Scandinavian design.
Mikko Paakkanen is one of the most important contemporary Finish designers with a number of significant international exhibitions and private and public collections, such as the Design Museum, Helsinki. His Big Stool received the Prize for the best contemporary design piece attributed by the PAD Paris Jury 2013 (President Jean-Michel Wilmotte and Honory President former cultural minister Jean-Jacques Aillagon).
Big stool
2012
Solid Oak
82 x 42 cm
cabinetmaker Matti Söderkultalahti
12 unique pieces
Big stool
Big stool
Big stool
Big stool
Big stool
Finnish designer, Mikko Paakkanen, studied carpentry before deciding to pursue his interest in design and innovative manufacturing methods. In his work, Paakkanen uses his perspective as both carpenter and designer to make creative work that honours classic craftsmanship. Paakkanen completed a master’s degree at the University of Art and Design Helsinki in 1998, where he returned years later to teach. Working as a freelance designer since 1998, he founded his own design firm, Studio Paakkanen. He has designed products for well-known brands such as Nikari and Avarte, and has also worked as an interior architect and set designer for art projects and music videos. Mikko Paakkanen has received many awards and grants for his work, including the Finnish Cultural Foundation grant; the Muoto 2011 Award, and the Fennia Prize from the Design Forum Finland. Paakkanen’s works are housed in numerous museum collections, including the Cooper Hewitt Museum, New York, USA; Die Neue Sammlung, Munich, Germany; Röhrska Museet , Göteborg, Sweden; Designmuseo, Helsinki, Finland and Wakita Museum, Nagano, Japan.
