Anu Koskela

How long have you lived in Brighton? What made you move here?

I’ve been here since 1997. Back then I was studying for a degree in English Language and Literature at the University of Helsinki, and decided to take a year out and live and work in the UK. I moved to Brighton as I had some Finnish friends here. As it happens, I never did go back to complete my degree at the University of Helsinki – I stayed in Brighton and instead did a degree in Linguistics at the University of Sussex.

What does Finnish design mean to you?

It reminds me of home. For me, owning some Finnish design items is a way of having a little bit of Finland with me here. That’s partly because the big design brands like Iittala, Marimekko, Arabia, Hackman, Finlayson and Fiskars are so ubiquitous in Finland: I think it’s true to say that most homes in Finland have at least some items of homeware, clothing or decorative objects by these manufacturers. When I was growing up in Finland, I’d cut out my paper dolls with Fiskars scissors, eat using Hackman cutlery, light candles in Iittala candle holders at Christmas and on special occasions my mum would bring out the Arabia Tupa coffee set. So I have lots of memories associated with Finnish design items. More objectively, I think Finnish design is characterised by clean lines, unostentatious beauty, high quality and practicality. These are the qualities I see time and time again in Finnish design: in the curves of the bright orange handles of Fiskars scissors, the Marimekko Unikko print, the classic three-legged Aalto stool…

Does Finnish design play a part in your daily life in any way?

I do have a few items by Finnish design brands that I use every day, such as cutlery, glasses and cups. My bedroom curtains are in Finlayson’s Optinen Omena fabric, so I guess you could say that Finnish design is one of the first things I see when I wake up!

Which Finnish design item have you chosen to be photographed with and why?

I’ve chosen Iittala’s Kivi candle holder. It was designed by Heikki Orvola in 1988. I love the sturdy, thick glass and the minimal, timeless shape. These candle holders come in a variety of striking colours. Mine is in ‘Ruusuoliivi’ or ‘Rose olive’, which is an ingenious combination colour that changes shade depending on the lighting conditions. In natural daylight, the candle holder is a beautiful dusky pink, but in artificial light it changes colour to a deep olive green. The pink shade also comes out if you light a candle in the holder, thus bringing a reminder of daylight to a dark evening. Finnish glass design has a long tradition and the clever glass colouring technique used in this candle holder is just a small reminder of that.

Photo by Sirpa Kutilainen.