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PUKKILA OY ABSUOMI WALL AND FLOOR TILE COLLECTIONDesign: Harri Helorinne, Jarkko Kallio / Helorinne & Kallio, Maarit Merinen / Pukkila Oy Ab 2006–2008 (Product Design Series) The Suomi range of products consists of wall and floor tiles for both homes and public spaces: co-ordinated collections, yet each with a distinctive style of its own. The patterns and motifs were inspired by Finnish nature. Through design and product development the tiles could be competitively priced and skills at the factory increased. Pukkila, Finland’s only manufacturer of ceramic tiles, was founded in 1874 under the name of Turun Kaakelitehdas – The Turku Tile Factory. At present it belongs to the Ricchetti Group, a large European player in the field. A few years ago, Pukkila wanted to create a new look for its wall and floor tile range. There was a need for tiles in new colours, sizes and shapes. A distinct design approach was also sought. The first collection came on the market in 2006, followed by new collections on a yearly basis. The concept was to give each collection its specific character, while permitting the products to be combined readily with tiles from other collections made by Pukkila. There are seven collections of tiles, each with three different types of texture. The tiles are intended for homes and public spaces alike. The overall impression of the collections is highly Scandinavian and suited to Finnish tastes. The design proceeded from motifs from Finnish nature and an emphasis on texture. A significant feature is the fact that these competitively priced tiles are made in Finland with environmentally friendly methods. Design and product development expanded skills and expertise at the factory, the technology for printing the motifs as an example - it was completely new in Finland. The tile collections have proved to be popular among consumers and designers. Pukkila Oy Ab Pitkämäenkatu 9, 20251 Turku Tel. +358 (0)207 219 600 www.pukkila.com |
