2012
Rudi-Kari Stool
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured by: Nikari (Tommi Alatalo, Rudi Merz, Kari Virtanen)
Materials: Ash, maple
Photos: Chikako Harada, COMPANY

A stool for Nikari's (a Finnish furniture manufacturer) 12 Designs for Nature -project.
Following the methods we've used in our ’Secrets’ projects, the Rudi-Kari Stool follows the inventions of master carpenters Rudi Merz and Kari Virtanen, the founders of Nikari. The Rudi-Kari Stool’ stands on Rudi's legs and carries Kari's head. The firm connection between the legs and the seat is made using parts of tree where a branch has grown – the strongest part of the tree – an innovation Rudi has previously used in coat hangers. The seat of the stool is shaped as sharp as Mr. Virtanen always is. The stool is assembled by Tommi Alatalo, Nikari's new generation of carpenters.

Photo: Chikako Harada.


Photo: Chikako Harada.

Tommi and Aamu making a prototype in Nikari.

Tommi sawing the branch visible.

Late spring 2012. Kari and Aamu choosing suitable logs for making the legs.

Split maple logs, where a branch has grown, are ready for drying.

Rudi shows where the logs should be split to find the branch.

Spring 2012. Rudi, Tommi, Aamu and Jenni waiting to see what Rudi has to show.

Kari and Aamu on a journey finding suitable trees for our stool project.

January 2012. Visiting Nikari and starting our project.