HISTORY

It all began with the material and a love for crafting.

Northern Origins

Growing up in South Ostrobothnia region of Finland, Kari Virtanen had been interested in forests and wood working from an early age. In 1967, after having learned woodworking skills from elder master cabinetmakers, and having advanced to the position of a pattern maker, Virtanen started his own workshop at the age of nineteen. Starting off as a one-man studio, Nikari was first established in the former space of Nikkarinkoski joinery in Seinäjoki, Finland. While Virtanen evolved his craft Nikari grew alongside him, one project after another, including early  assignments from architect Alvar Aalto and designer Kaj Franck.

The Move to Fiskars

Almost thirty years later, in 1993, Nikari moved to a new home in Fiskars, an old iron works and village, which had been a point of interest for Virtanen already in the 1970’s. For Virtanen, the exceptionally lush selection of tree species was a central reason for the move to Fiskars. An expert knowledge of the multiple species of wood that grow in northern parts of Europe would become a defining feature of Nikari’s work.

The new space for the workshop was in Finland’s oldest machine works, situated next to Fiskars river rapids, which, in 2014, were re-equipped to produce hydroelectricity for the workshop. Likewise, an existing sawmill next to the workshop allowed for a collaborative and fluent workflow. This collaborative spirit was already emerging in the early nineties in Fiskars, which was fast becoming a creative crossroads for artisans in diverse fields, from handcraft to art and design. With Nikari’s arrival, Fiskars’s position as Finland’s creative melting pot was solidified — Nikari had truly found a home.

The Tradition Continues

Working from this rich history, Nikari’s skilful cabinetmakers continue to transform pieces of the Finnish forest into new forms, using techniques that derive from the past coupled with a passion that looks towards the future. In Nikari’s furniture, one can see a human touch and an uncompromising expertise that is rooted in a fundamental respect for and understanding of its living material. Featuring clean, quietly forthright Scandinavian designs, a sustainable development process and high quality materials, Nikari’s products offer thoughtful and durable building blocks for any space.