Created by Durat, Johanna Gullichsen, and Finarte together with Finnish Design Info and Helsinki Partners, PLAYROOM transforms its space into a colourful laboratory for creativity, social connection, and experimentation. Visitors are encouraged to touch, play, meet new people, and discover contemporary interpretations of some of Finland’s most entertaining and delightfully quirky traditional games.
“In Finland, children start school at the age of seven, significantly later than in many other countries. We believe that giving children time and space to play supports cognitive development, creativity, and long-term well-being,” says Hanna Harris, Chief Design Officer for the City of Helsinki. “Innovation requires imagination and curiosity. The ability to play is deeply connected to the ability to invent.”
Finarte
Celebrating over 40 years of design, Finarte brings a bold world of color, texture, and craftsmanship to 3daysofdesign. The family-run Finnish design house presents its latest collection in collaboration with fashion designer Ervin Latimer, whose graphic and expressive designs transform rugs into tactile works of art. Combining Latimer’s family roots of Northern Finland and Senegal, Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo area, circular thinking and handwoven traditions, the exhibition demonstrates how responsible production and uncompromising design can go hand-in-hand.
Durat
The Palapeli shelf, designed by celebrated Finnish designer Harri Koskinen, is a versatile shelving unit made entirely from Durat, a Finnish solid-surface material containing up to 30% recycled plastic. Originally developed as a wooden design a decade ago, Palapeli has been reimagined in Durat, whose durability and resistance to moisture make it equally suitable for living spaces and bathrooms. Koskinen notes that Durat allows the shelf to be manufactured from production offcuts, ensuring highly efficient use of material while also offering a wide range of colour options, from elegant monochrome versions to playful multicoloured compositions. Customers can choose matching colours for all components or assemble the shelf from available offcut pieces in different hues, with colour availability varying according to production surplus.
Johanna Gullichsen
Since 1989, Johanna Gullichsen has created durable, sustainable textiles for homes and public spaces. The iconic Normandie collection is made entirely in Finland, reflecting a commitment to local craftsmanship and responsible production, while the Project collection is designed to meet the demands of high-traffic environments. Alongside fabrics by the metre, the brand offers cushions and bespoke interior pieces that bring lasting quality and timeless style to any setting.
© Stefania Zanetti
“Playing together is a way to connect with one another,” says Harris. “At 3daysofdesign, we wanted to introduce some of the funniest and most unconventional traditional games while creating opportunities for people to meet, interact, and play together.”
At its heart, PLAYROOM is not only about games. It is about the Finnish belief that creativity flourishes when people feel free to explore, experiment, and enjoy themselves together.
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