Design Stories sat down with Karri Koskelo, CEO of Lundia to discuss the return of the Lundia Classic shelves in untreated pine and the all-new Knot mirror. Get inspired by the beautifully treated samples – this iconic Finnish design gives you carte blanche to choose any color!
Hi Karri! How is your fall period going and what kinds of things does it entail?
“In our line of work, the fall is always busy. I am in close contact with suppliers and do my best to keep all our manufacturing in Finland, even during these trying times on the financial front. While it may not be easy, we try our hardest.
Another equally important task is cherishing Lundia's workplace culture by making it progressively safer. I believe psychological safety must be ensured in every role and between every employee. Regardless of my role in the company, I strive always to keep that top of mind. By doing so, I feel I am maintaining Lundia's status as a respected brand.
Recently I have been preparing our cottage for the winter. I already know I will miss it during the long winter period. I am at my happiest when I can spend time heating the sauna, swimming, and looking out onto the lake. Indulging in clean water, calming views, and small yet pleasant tasks are the most important parts of summer cottage life.”
Previously, the Lundia Classic range received a rattan door revamp, and now the untreated version has made a comeback. What led the brand to relaunch this archival model?
“The untreated shelves became topical when we were thinking about ways to continue celebrating pine after Lundia's 75th anniversary in 2023. The birthday celebrations were an ode to pine of sorts, and we will continue the same song of praise in the future. We want to highlight pine as a material – after all, our Lundia Classic series is known for this exact natural resource. We also want to emphasize that when you buy a solid wood product, it can be treated, repaired, and fine-tuned almost infinitely to your liking.
“The range of shelves featuring untreated wood is above all our tribute to Finnish pine.”
Our basic products always come with a finish, such as lacquer, but with this version, we hope to further highlight that a Lundia product can always be altered to suit your style. The range of shelves featuring untreated wood is above all our tribute to Finnish pine.”
Finnish pine seems to be experiencing something of a renaissance. Why is the material so important to Lundia?
“Pine is very familiar to us Finns, not only in the yards of our homes and summer cottages but also as part of the national landscape. It also carries weight when it comes to the Finnish economy. Due to the billions of profit extracted from the forest, the wood has to a tiresomely large extent been turned into sawn timber and pulp. I would argue that the value is far greater when timber is processed into furniture that will last almost forever.
We only use responsibly grown, certified Finnish wood in Lundia's production. We know exactly where the wood comes from, and that makes our furniture an ecological choice that will last for generations.”
“Lundia products are an antidote to throwaway culture and the fast pace of the interior design market.”
What does sustainability mean in addition to local materials and manufacturing?
“We no longer lack know-how on making products in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way. The real problem is overconsumption. From an environmental point of view, the most sustainable choice is a product you purchase once and update when needed. That is why I am so bold as to suggest buying only one piece of furniture.
Lundia products are an antidote to throwaway culture and the fast pace of the interior design market. Of course, our products also change over time, but the Lundia Classic shelf, for example, has a life span of several decades.
I have heard countless times that the only downside of Lundia is that the items last forever. While I understand this is said jokingly, we are in fact dealing with a very positive characteristic. This may be far from desirable in terms of economic growth, but it is the best possible approach from an environmental and climate perspective.”
Reeta Laine's Knot wall mirror is another new addition for Lundia. How did you end up working with Reeta?
“The mirror has several stories attached to it. Reeta is actually a former Lundia employee – in fact, I was in charge of her induction a long time ago. Since then she has worked for various companies, but we have kept in touch.
Back in 2023, when Reeta's prototypes were on display at Helsinki Design Week, the Finnish media industry pro Maria Veitola posted on Instagram about the mirror. I immediately forwarded it to Reeta, as I am a big fan of both Reeta and Maria.
However, the caption included a slight error, stating that the product was made from surplus material. At the time, the material was birch, as I recall. Reeta and I immediately thought that Lundia could manufacture the mirror out of pine and that one day we could perhaps make use of leftover material from our production.
Currently, the Knot mirrors in our collection are made from virgin material, but we still hang on to plans for utilizing leftover material in the future. This would go hand in hand with our values and highlight the importance of pine. If and when we make such a special edition, I want the products to be numbered – and the first one belongs to Maria Veitola.”
“The customer had turned a Lundia Classic shelf into a sizeable home for their pet hedgehog.”
What is the most imaginative use of Lundia shelving you have heard of?
“One encounter in particular has stayed with me. I was helping a customer pick out spare parts at our Helsinki store. After choosing several shelving system components, the client revealed the products' intended use by showing me a picture on their phone.
The customer in question had turned a Lundia Classic shelf into a sizeable home for their pet hedgehog, complete with slides, multiple floors, and even a dining area. Decked out with glass doors, the whole thing resembled an aquarium. The hedgehog's home was beyond impressive and truly unique!”
What does the future hold for Lundia?
“Lundia is here to stay. Although times are tough, we are not going anywhere and will continue to promote fine Finnish craftsmanship and locally-grown pine, our beloved raw material. The brand has a strong foundation and a clear aim to support Finnish design prowess.
Lundia is creative by nature, encompassing our internal values, the characteristics of our products, and the stories we share. I hope that Lundia's creativity is seen and felt by anyone who crosses paths with us at any point in their lives.”
Favorites from Lundia
See also:
• All Lundia items at Finnish Design Shop >
• Read also: Lundia’s classic bookshelf combines Finnish pine and rattan >
Text: Eero Nurmi Images: Lundia and Mikael Niemi