In the summer of 2026, the Tahiti Gallery at the Säynätsalo Town Hall will host an exhibition by designer Kati Hienonen titled Waste-free design for the home – We Bring Nature Home. It explores the potential of design as part of a more sustainable future.
The exhibition centres on a collection of home textiles made from Finnsheep wool, inspired by the circular economy. In her design, Hienonen takes the entire life cycle of the material into account: from the raw material to how the product is used to recycling. At the same time, the exhibition highlights safe materials and manufacturing processes which ensure that no harmful chemicals are left in the environment.
For Hienonen, design is not merely about creating beautiful and functional objects, but a way of addressing the major questions of our time. Her exhibition explores how material choices, production methods and everyday aesthetics can support the transition towards a lower-carbon and more sustainable lifestyle.
“When we use a certain material, we form a connection with it. The materials we use shape the way we live and the kind of world we live in. Our choices say a lot about who we are,” Hienonen sums up.
The exhibition at the Säynätsalo Town Hall brings a timely perspective on how design can combine beauty, practicality and ecological responsibility in a concrete and transparent way.
We are especially grateful to be able to hold our exhibition in this charming building, where the presence of nature has been beautifully integrated into the interior spaces. Aalto designed the building in 1949. The Town Hall is located a short distance from Aalto’s own summer house, “Koetalo,” where he enjoyed spending summers with his family.
Exhibition details: Tahiti Gallery, Säynätsalo Town Hall Parviaisentie 9, 40900 Säynätsalo 25 May – 30 August 2026
The exhibition is located in the paid exhibition area of the Säynätsalo Town Hall.
Admission is free on specially designated free admission days, such as the Säynätsalopäivät Festival from the 7th to the 9th of August 2026.
