Your name: Lasse Kinnunen
What you do Design and manufacture furniture and interior objects for DEKA design.
Your latest project Furnishing of luxury apartment at 1 Scott Street, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane.
What is your favorite…
travel destination Helsinki, Finland. I will be travelling there again this year to see the design events around southern Finland as part of the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012.
place to stay In Finland – a summer house on the lake, and in Australia – anywhere along the beachside.
magazine Timberman and Wooden Boat. For work and hobby!
watchmaker Omega – my vintage wind-up seamaster is very treasured.
luxury goods company Artisan-based makers such as Gucci and Tresserra who value traditional craftsmanship.
design classic the Sauna Stool designed by Antti Nurmesniemi in 1951
new design Woodnotes Avenue Rug Collection
type of chair rocking chair
meal any simple salmon dish – can be either smoked, cured or oven-baked.
restaurant The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron restaurant for a relaxing Friday night meal after finishing in our nearby workshop.
drink a good Australian shiraz such as the Peter Lehmann Stonewell
bar the Ateljee Bar at Hotel Torni – a tiny little bar on the top level (level 14) of Helsinki’s tallest building! Great ambience and view.
gallery/museum Gallery of Modern Art here in Brisbane of course! And in Finland, the wonderful display of historic cottages and farmsteads at the ‘Seurasaari’ open air museum in Helsinki. This year I’ll visit the ‘Kalevalakehto’ spirit of place at Seurasaari which my niece helped to build there in 2010. It is a place of cultural identity inspired by the folklore of
the 19th century Finnish epic poem Kalevala.
book The Finnish epic Kalevala – first published in 1835 the elegant words of the old mythology still inspires national culture.
item in your studio Simple – pencil and paper!
artwork The Sibelius Monument in Helsinki, made by sculptor Eila Hiltunen in 1967. It’s a beautiful abstract art which portrays music in three dimensions so well. And the surrounding landscape of rock and grass make it a very pleasant and relaxing place to visit.
artist I like to follow and support local contemporary artists, so among my favourites are Michael Zavros for the level of perseverance he has in his craft and Tracey Moffatt for her provoking film making.
piece of technology My iPod for its convenience. I have filmed hundreds of hours of footage in nature and in the city, which I use for short films and capture images for inspiration.
Three people that inspire/excite you
1) Finnish poet Eino Leino
2) Finnish composer Jean Sibelius
3) Mid-century furniture makers such as Hans Wegner and Alvar Aalto for their groundbreaking work with timber for furniture.
What is your creative philosophy Designing for longevity and quality, advocating the use of local workmanship to build a stronger base for craft-based practices, and using material resources in a sustainable manner.
What does the term ‘Design Hunter’™ mean to you? A person who spends time learning about what is good design, and appreciating the role that good design, in different contexts has, in bettering our future.