Leo Lindroos wins the main prize at the Habitare Design Competition

12.09.2012

The winner of the 2012 Habitare Design Competition was Leo Lindroos with his design 'Sunset Camera'. Lindroos was awarded the €6,000 main prize.

Two other prizes were awarded to Erkko Aarti and the designer duo of Hanna Jahkonen and Tomas Nordström. Boris Berlin, the head judge of the competition, announced the winners at the Habitare fair on 12 September.

The theme of the 2012 competition, organised by the Finnish Fair Corporation and the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, was ‘private space’. The five shortlisted designs will be on show at Habitare, from 12 to 16 September 2012.

The contestants in the Habitare Design Competition, now held for the 11th time, were required to design and implement their ideas for a private space intended for personal retreat, break, rest and relaxation. The grand prize of €10,000 was donated by the Finnish Fair Foundation. This year, the head judge, the Danish designer Boris Berlin, decided to give an award to three designs.

- Leo Lindroos' design 'Sunset Camera' conceals light under two different structures. An incredible moving image of changing light brings the beauty of a sunset to urban people to experience, creating a meditative state and sensation, says the head judge Boris Berlin on the winning entry.

The second prize went to Erkko Aarti for his design 'Lyhty' (Lantern) and to the duo of Hanna Jahkonen and Tomas Nordström for their design 'Musta Aukko' (Black Hole). Both designs were awarded a €2,000 prize.

The Habitare Design Competition is intended for design or architecture students or teams of students based in Finland. All the 2012 finalists study at the Aalto University. The chair of the jury for the first stage of the two-stage competition was Professor Helena Hyvönen. Out of a total of 64 entries, the jury chose five designs for the final.

The theme and head judge of the Habitare Design Competition change every year. The most recent themes have included "Outhouse" (2011, winner Yoshimasa Yamada), "Recycled seat" (2010, winners Arttu Kuisma and Janne Melajoki) and "Sauna" (2009, winners Ville Hara and Anu Puustinen). Previous head judges include Mikko Heikkinen, Alfredo Häberli and Sami Rintala.

The 2012 finalists were: 'Kuuro' (Shower) by Mirka Uski and Heidi Siitonen; 'Musta Aukko' (Black Hole) by Hanna Jahkonen and Tomas Nordström; 'Lyhty' (Lantern) by Erkko Aarti; ‘Sunset Camera’ by Leo Lindroos; and ‘PopUp WrapUp’ by Mari Sollman and Kairit Sõlg.

More information:

Competition secretary Timo Sairi, the Aalto University, tel. +358 40 582 6505, timo.sairi [at] aalto [dot] fi.

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