The Making of Modern Living

Held during Helsinki Design Week, the exhibition The Making of Modern Living invites visitors to Artek 2nd Cycle to experience the atmosphere of Artek’s very first store, which opened in 1936 on Helsinki’s Fabianinkatu.

The Artek store was not merely a place to buy furniture, but also a cultural space. It embodied the ideals of Aino and Alvar Aalto, Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl: the fusion of art and technology, and the promotion of “a modern way of living”.

Since then, Artek has remained a fixture of Helsinki’s street life, offering a compelling and tangible expression of the founders’ vision. We invite you to step back in time.

'The Making of Modern Living' exhibition is open from August 25 to September 25, 2026 at the Artek 2nd Cycle.