Kiki Collection cropped Kvadrat/Raf Simons upholstery

Kiki Collection

Designer: Ilmari Tapiovaara

Year: 1960

The Kiki collection employs oval steel tubing as framework in conjunction with surfaces that display distinctive planes and smooth-edged contours. Kiki was designer Ilmari Tapiovaara’s first series to feature a consistent system of matching parts; the collection includes a stool, a bench, a small side table, a lounge chair, and a sofa. The resulting look is iconic in its simplicity. When presented at the Milan Triennale in 1960, the Kiki Chair took the gold medal. Legend has it that a manufacturer approached Tapiovaara asking him to design a product that made use of his surplus of metal tubing. True or not, with the Kiki collection, Tapiovaara announced a departure from his previous work. Kiki is a mannequin, able to be dressed up in numerous ways, to travel effortlessly and assume different personalities. Items from the Kiki family can be teamed in many configurations. Their compact size means they fit naturally into smaller spaces.

Products in this collection

Designer: Ilmari Tapiovaara

Year: 1960

Kiki_Longe_Chair_Sofa_Table_photo_Mikko_Ryhanen
Designed in 1960 for both public and private use, the Kiki Collection features a metal tube frame with an oval cross section
Kiki Collection Kvadrat/Raf Simons upholstery
Thanks to its simple and compact geometry, Kiki will suit upholstery in any choice of material and colour
Kiki Collection
Its simple, compact, yet refined proportions, led to Kiki becoming a favourite of Modernist architects in Finland during the 1960s