Designer · Finland · 1914–1999
Ilmari Tapiovaara
Ilmari Tapiovaara (1914–1999) – Finnish interior architect and designer, creator of the Domus chair and longtime artistic director at Asko.
About the designer
- Lifetime
- 1914–1999
- Country
- Finland
- Manufacturers
- Asko
Ilmari Tapiovaara was born in 1914. In 1937, he graduated in interior architecture from the Central School of Arts and Crafts in Helsinki and briefly worked for Le Corbusier in Paris. From 1938, he was a designer and artistic director at Asko furniture factory.
Together with his wife Annikki, he designed the Domus chair (1946–1947) for the Domus Academica student residence in Helsinki. He ran his own studio from 1951. In 1952–1953, he lectured at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and for the UN he led projects in Paraguay and Mauritius, among other places. He also designed the Polar cutlery (1964) for Hackman.
He received, among others, the Good Design Award in Chicago (1951), Pro Finlandia (1959) and the State Design Award (1971), as well as several gold medals at the Milan Triennale. His student was Yrjö Kukkapuro. He died in 1999.
More Scandinavian design can be found in the SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN and Mid-Century Modern collections.
Key designs
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Domus chair
With Annikki Tapiovaara, for the Domus Academica student residence.
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Polar cutlery
In the V&A collection.
