The winner of the Habitare Design Competition 2025 is JOLLA – entries explored spaces of rest
The winner of the Habitare Design Competition 2025 is JOLLA, designed by Rosa Piirainen. The winner was announced on the opening day of the Habitare fair on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, at Messukeskus Helsinki. The main prize of the competition was a €5,000 grant donated by the Finnish Fair Foundation. The leading furniture, design and interior event in the Nordics will be held at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre from 10 to 14 September 2025.
Organised jointly by Habitare and Aalto University, the theme of this year’s competition was Domestic Islands, which invited participants to reflect on the meaning of rest in the context of the home. The finalist entries presented spaces that offered a tangible experience of rest, recovery, and creativity – sometimes in the form of furniture, sometimes as spatial concepts, or even as internal states of mind.
The winning entry, JOLLA, impressed the jury with its clear approach and strong interpretation of the theme. The head judges were Salla Luhtasela and Wesley Walters of the design studio Studio Kaksikko, who commented on the jury’s decision as follows:
"JOLLA features intriguing details, such as integrating light and movement into a piece of furniture. In its simplicity and clever details, it works well as-is—for example, as part of home décor—but it also holds potential for more versatile variations."
The first round of judging was carried out by designer and professor Tomek Rygalik, architect and professor Pentti Kareoja, and industrial designer Simo Puintila.
The Habitare Design Competition was held for the 21st time in collaboration with Aalto University. The competition highlights emerging architecture and design students and offers them visibility as part of the leading furniture, design, and interior event in the Nordic region.
Pia Sievinen, communication & brand, Habitare, pia.sievinen@messukeskus.com, tel. +358 40 559 9155,
Images of Habitare can be downloaded here
Habitare, the leading furniture, design and interior event in the Nordics, will be held at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre from 10 to 14 September 2025. | habitare.fi | @habitarefair
The Finnish Fair Group includes, in addition to Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, the trade fair organiser Expomark Oy and the AV technology company SVV Oy. In 2024, the Group’s revenue was 58.4 million euros, its economic impact on the surrounding area was 245 million euros, and its employment impact was 3,335 person-years. I Messukeskus. The real social media. I messukeskus.com I @messukeskus
