Yrjö Kukkapuro | |
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 Kukkapuro in 1964 | |
| Born | (1933-04-06)6 April 1933 Viipurin maalaiskunta, Finland |
| Died | 8 February 2025(2025-02-08) (aged 91) Kauniainen, Finland |
| Alma mater | Institute of Industrial Arts[1] |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse | Irmeli Kukkapuro |
| Awards |
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| Website | kukkapuro |
Yrjö KukkapuroRDI (6 April 1933 – 8 February 2025) was a Finnishinterior architect andfurniture designer.
Kukkapuro studied design at the Institute of Industrial Arts inHelsinki in the late 1950s, qualifying as an interior architect in 1958.[2]
In the 1970s he returned to the Institute, to work as a Professor and, for two years, as theRector.[2]
He heldHonorary Professorships at universities includingJiangnan (Wuxi) andNanjing, as well as an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Art and Design Helsinki (now part of theAalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture).[2]
Kukkapuro's design philosophy centred around ergonomics.[2]
He was best known for his chairs, of which perhaps the most famous is an easy chair calledKaruselli ('Carousel') from 1964,[3] which is included in the permanent collection of major museums including theMuseum of Modern Art in New York and theVictoria and Albert Museum in London.[2][4] It was nominated as the most comfortable chair in the world byThe New York Times in 1974,[5] and fellow designer SirTerence Conran has called it his "favourite place to sit because it is so comfortable".[6][7]
Kukkapuro exhibited in dozens of solo and group exhibitions around the world.[1]
Yrjö Kukkapuro was married to graphic artistIrmeli Kukkapuro [d] (née Salminen) since 1954. The couple built a home studio inKauniainen, designed by Yrjö Kukkapuro and his long-time collaborator, engineer Eero Paloheimo.[3] Irmeli died in 2022.[8]
Kukkapuro died after a long illness at his residence outsideHelsinki, on 8 February 2025, at the age of 91.[9][8] According to his daughter, he kept working until the end, asking only a week before his death for his assistant to visit, because he had a nearly-finished chair design he wanted to discuss.[9]
In 1983, Kukkapuro was awarded thePro Finlandia [fi] medal of theOrder of the Lion of Finland.[10]
In 2002, he was appointed HonoraryRoyal Designer for Industry of the UK'sRoyal Society of Arts.[11]
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