Habitare Choice reminds us of life beyond the digital world – featuring elements of sustainable living from phone-hiding furniture to the last object a person owns
Featured at Habitare since 2022, the Habitare Choice area showcases phenomena and ideas that make responsible choices easier. Curated by interior stylist Susanna Vento, this year’s selection includes products that carry a meaning greater than themselves. 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.
From the very beginning, the popular Habitare Choice area has aimed to bring together and highlight ideas that support responsible decision-making.
“This time, Habitare Choice features products that carry a deeper meaning beyond their physical form and intended function. For example, Piilo, developed by Sari Niemi and designed by Pentagon Design, is a box created for smartphones. It teaches us that we don’t need our phones and devices constantly. When the phone is out of sight, our attention shifts to what truly matters, bringing clarity to the mind and depth to human encounters,” explains interior stylist Susanna Vento, the curator of Habitare Choice.
Another example she mentions is the Uurna collection by designer Saara Renvall, born from the need to explore the aesthetics of the final object a person owns. The collection, made entirely of wood and designed with ecological principles, features a minimalist and timeless design language, free from gendered or religious symbolism. Bold colors bring warmth and humanity to objects associated with death. The collection, manufactured in Finland, will be launched at Habitare Choice.
The area brings together over 20 companies and offers visitors workshops that include yoga, as well as hands-on activities like creating ceramics, flower bouquets, meadow seed mixes, and fragrances. Workshop partners include FloweRescue, Savilla, Sees, Suomen Niittysiemen, and yoga teacher, photographer Wilma Hetemaj. The area’s structures and furnishings are responsibly produced, with partners such as Bolon, Hiil, Kinnarps, and Uku.
Alusta lähtien suositun Habitare Choice -alueen lähtökohtana on tuoda yhteen ja esiin ideoita vastuullisten valintojen tekemiseen.
”Habitare Choicessa on tällä kertaa mukana tuotteita, joilla on suurempi merkitys kuin itse tuote ja sen tarkoitus. Esimerkiksi Sari Niemen kehittämä ja Pentagon Designin muotoilema Piilo on älypuhelimelle suunniteltu rasia, joka opettaa meitä samalla siihen, että emme tarvitse kännyköitä ja muita laitteita koko ajan. Kun puhelin on piilossa, huomio keskittyy olennaisiin asioihin ja mieleen tulee selkeyttä ja kohtaamisiin syvyyttä”, Habitare Choicen kuratoinut sisustusstylisti Susanna Vento kertoo.
Toisena esimerkkinä hän mainitsee muotoilja Saara Renvallin suunnitteleman Uurna-malliston, joka on syntynyt tarpeesta käsitellä ihmisen viimeisen esineen estetiikkaa. Kokopuisen ja ekologisen malliston muotokieli on eleetön ja ajaton, ilman sukupuoleen tai uskonnolliseen vakaumukseen liittyvää symboliikkaa. Vahvat värit tuovat kuoleman esineistöön inhimillisyyttä ja lämpöä. Suomessa valmistettava mallisto lanseerataan Habitare Choicessa.
Habitare Choice tuo yhteen yli 20 yritystä ja tarjoaa kävijöille työpajoja, joissa joogataan sekä tehdään itse keramiikkaa, kukkakimppuja, niittysiemensekoituksia ja tuoksuja. Työpajojen kumppanit ovat Flower rescue, Savilla, SEES, Suomen Niittysiemen ja Wilma Hetemaj. Alueen rakenteet ja kalusteet ovat vastuullisesti valmistettuja, yhteistyökumppaneina ovat Bolon, Hiil, Kinnarps ja ja Uku.
Companies and Partners of Habitare Choice 2025
Arkivé Atelier is an online store for garment care and home maintenance, a modern influencer brand, and a practical problem-solver for everyday life. As the world drowns in excess goods, Arkivé Atelier offers everyone the opportunity to extend the lifespan of clothing and household items through education and care products.@arkiveatelier
Bolon Over 70 years ago, Bolon’s founding idea was to weave vinyl and textile surplus into recycled rag rugs. Today, caravan carpets have evolved into eco-labelled design floors and rugs still made from recycled materials. All products are manufactured in Sweden, and the entire production process runs on 100% renewable energy.@bolonofficial
Decco Interiors is a company that produces and delivers public space textiles and interior projects, offering sustainability consulting for public interiors. Their selection includes responsibly produced, environmentally friendly, fire-safe, durable, and easy-to-maintain fabrics. Decco also offers curtain rail systems made from recycled aluminum for even the most demanding spaces.@deccointeriors
FloweRescue is a volunteer-driven community that rescues surplus flowers from florists, wholesalers, and supermarkets. Flowers removed from sale are sorted, and those still in good condition are turned into cheerful bouquets delivered to elderly homes and care centers.@flower_rescue
Genelec is more than just a technology company. While its mission is to produce the world’s best studio monitors and audio solutions, its operations and product design are deeply rooted in genuine care for people, the environment, and the supply chain. Since 2020, Genelec speaker enclosures have been made using recycled aluminum sourced from beverage cans, old car parts, and surplus from new aluminum component production. Today, 97% of the aluminum used in Genelec’s manufacturing is recycled. The company also runs an online store for refurbished devices, giving serviced speakers a second life in new homes. @genelec_oy
Hiil Charred wood is timber whose surface has been treated by burning. This natural and non-toxic method improves weather resistance and protects the wood from decay. Burning the surface does not weaken the wood’s structure, so charred timber can be used just like any other wood material. Charred wood is also available under the circular economy brand CircuWood™. These products are made from by-products and surplus wood from the sawmill and planing industries. This wood, which would often be destined for energy incineration, can be repurposed for cladding by burning its surface—correcting aesthetic or structural flaws and making it suitable for construction use. @hiilmaterials
Kinnarpsin toimisto- ja julkitilankalustamisen valikoimissa on lukuisia vastuullisia materiaali-innovaatioita. Kinnarps panostaa kalusteiden pitkään käyttöikään, huoltoon, uudistamiseen ja kierrätykseen tarjoamalla kierrätettyjä kalusteita. @kinnarpsfi
Kokori produces handwoven baskets through direct and long-term collaboration with villagers in Northern Ghana. The initiative is built on supporting the livelihoods of female basket weavers by offering fair compensation that respects their craftsmanship—contributing to the sustainable development of the entire smallholder farming community. Currently, Kokori’s baskets are made by a group of around 80 women. Basket weaving provides an essential source of supplementary income for farmers who, during Northern Ghana’s long dry seasons, are unable to cultivate their land. The baskets are tightly woven from a naturally growing, strong grass species, making them exceptionally durable and flexible in use. @kokori_baskets
Lapuan Kankurit weaves its products in Lapua, Finland—from yarn to finished textile. Their own weaving mill, use of natural materials, and collaboration with talented designers ensure a long lifecycle for each product. In recent years, Lapuan Kankurit has played a key role in rescuing Finnish sheep wool. Thanks to their own finishing facility and spinning mill, they can oversee the entire production chain and develop unique products using Finnish wool. @lapuankankurit
Mari Koppanen has researched and developed leather-like materials made from various fungi, plant-based cellulose, and scobys (symbiotic cultures of bacteria and yeast). For many, the tinder fungus is a familiar sight in birch forests, and its inner layer—amadou—has traditionally been used in textile and leather substitutes for hundreds of years. Mari is now bringing the potential of this fungus into the present—an era where naturally renewable materials are more essential than ever. @mari.koppanen
Nevotex is Northern Europe’s leading supplier of curtain and upholstery materials. The recycled polyester Rimini fabric, used in Habitare CHOICE installations and pavilions and suitable for public spaces, is one example of Nevotex’s ever-growing range of environmentally responsible textiles. @nevotex
OnePan is the world’s first recyclable frying pan. Each OnePan is part of a unique return-and-recycle system, where worn pans are refurbished to like-new condition and reused again and again. Made from recycled aluminum in Sweden, OnePan is compatible with gas and electric stoves, ceramic and induction cooktops, and ovens up to 300°C. @onepan.se
Pihlgren & Ritola produces authentic paper wallpapers where tradition and design meet in a timeless and natural way. Their first wallpaper collection was launched in 1930, and the company still uses the same glue-based rotary printing method as in the factory’s early days. The wallpaper designs and handcrafted production techniques represent living cultural heritage. The current collection includes a wide range of styles and eras, suitable for both restoration projects and new builds. @tapettitehdas
Piilo (Hideway)is like a friend that gently reminds you of life beyond the digital world. When your phone is tucked away, your attention shifts to what truly matters, bringing clarity to the mind and depth to human connection. Designed by Sari Niemi and shaped by Pentagon Design, this smartphone box serves as a visible cue for building more sustainable phone habits. It encourages users to pause and make a conscious choice about their phone use. The ceramic parts are crafted by JP Studiokeramiikka in Lapinlahti, while the wooden lids are hand-turned and finished by Komulainen Component in Iisalmi. The mat inside Piilo is made by GlobeHope.@piilo_phonebase
Sarwa Yoga is a Finnish manufacturer and producer of yoga accessories. The company offers a wide selection of sustainably made and natural yoga equipment, including Finnish-designed cushions. At the Habitare Choice pavilion, visitors can unwind during yoga sessions using Sarwa Yoga products. @sarwayoga
Sees is an eco-friendly, Finnish, and high-quality alternative in the world of home cleaning and natural cosmetics. The Sees product family blends sustainability, aesthetics, and delightful scents. This responsibly made and stylishly fragrant collection is now found in an increasing number of hotels and public spaces. This year, visitors can join Sees scent workshops in the Habitare Choice workshop area. @seescompany
Spolia Design specializes in the reuse of dismantled building materials, helping to conserve natural resources. The company focuses on demolition planning with the goal of maximizing the recycling and reuse rate of construction materials. @spoliadesign
Studio Savilla is a relaxed and atmospheric ceramics studio located in Punavuori, Helsinki. It offers pottery courses for both beginners and experienced enthusiasts. The experience of learning ceramic skills and crafting handmade items is a mindful alternative to consumerism, and the resulting piece is sure to be cherished for years to come. Studio Savilla hosts ceramic workshops in the Habitare Choice area, and a curated collection of Savilla ceramics is also available for purchase. @studiosavilla
Suomen Luonnonmaalit (Finnish Natural Paints)is Finland’s only truly authentic eco paint store. They offer genuinely environmentally friendly surface treatment products along with leading and honest expertise in the field. Lauri from Suomen Luonnonmaalit knows exactly what each eco-label—or lack thereof—on a paint can really means. @suomenluonnonmaalit
Suomen Niittysiemen (Finnish Meadow Seed)collects original strains of native meadow flowers for cultivation and produces all seeds in Finland without chemical pesticides. Flower meadows are vital for pollinators, which are essential to biodiversity. With seed mixes from Niittysiemen’s seed bank, creating your own meadow is effortless. Their selection includes seeds and mixes tailored to various growing environments. @suomenniittysiemen
Timberwise believes that the lifespan of a good parquet floor is measured in years—and the best ones, in decades. Timberwise parquet is manufactured in Loimaa, Finland, using only the finest raw materials. The base and intermediate layers are made from Finnish spruce and birch plywood, while the surface woods—oak, ash, and larch—are sourced from within the EU. In recent years, Timberwise has also revived the value of Finnish pine and birch parquet. In industrial parquet production, high-quality wood material is inevitably left unused, and installation often results in surplus material. Timberwise’s Twise products give these materials a new life and purpose—as furniture and small items. @timberwiseofficial
Travico ShawContract textile tiles are manufactured carbon-neutrally in Scotland. Thanks to a new backing structure and proprietary recycled fibers, the tiles are fully recyclable and have an even smaller carbon footprint. Shaw produced its first recyclable flooring based on Cradle to Cradle circular economy principles over 20 years ago, and recycling and reuse have long been part of Shaw’s global operating model. Since 2006, Shaw has recycled approximately 500 million kilograms of used flooring through its reTurn program. @travico_oy
Uku brings natural surface materials into interior design. Their clay and lime plasters and paints are 100% natural products, ensuring not only ecological sustainability but also a healthy indoor microclimate. UKU offers options for both indoor and outdoor use. In addition to their own booth, UKU’s products have been used on the walls of the Choice area. Welcome to explore by touch. @uku.helsinki
Uurna (Urn)collection was born from the need to address the aesthetics of a person’s final object. This solid wood and ecological collection features a minimalist and timeless design, free from gendered or religious symbolism. Bold colors and limited editions bring warmth and humanity to objects associated with death. Designed by Saara Renvall and manufactured in Finland, the urn collection is launched at Habitare Choice. @saararenvall
Wilma Hetemaj is a yoga teacher and photographer. At the Habitare Choice workshop area, Wilma will offer relaxation to all fair visitors. Her slow and nervous system-soothing Yin yoga is suitable for everyone, regardless of prior experience. As a counterbalance to the constant outward focus of the fair, the Choice pavilion’s practice turns inward through a few gentle Yin yoga poses. You can do the poses in whatever clothes you’re wearing. The yoga schedule and registration details will be announced closer to the event. @wilmahetemaj
More information:
Pia Sievinen, communication & brand, Habitare, puh. +358 40 559 9155, pia.sievinen@messukeskus.com
Accreditation: https://www.messukeskus.com/en/for-media/accreditation/
Download the Habitare Choice product images 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
