Olof Ottelin – Interior Architect and Designer

Olof Ottelin (1917–1971) was an interior architect
and furniture designer during the post-war
reconstruction period, when Finns were only
just learning about interior decoration. He
built a successful career as a designer of
furniture and interiors for both homes and
public spaces, and as the artistic director of
the department store Stockmann’s interior
decoration department. Ottelin was also
known as a toy designer and accomplished
artist who observed politics, culture and
contemporary trends through a lens of warm-
hearted humour.

The exhibition presents Ottelin’s interior
decoration projects, design philosophy and
the furniture manufactured by Keravan
Puusepäntehdas furniture makers factory.
At the same time, it draws a picture of the
time and the person from an affectionate
perspective coloured by his home and life.