New ‘design café’ invests in Finnishness
Cafe Alvar A., opened to the public today at Helsinki-Vantaa airport. This exceptional ‘design café features some of the leading names in Finnish design. The café specializes in locally produced food and showcases one-of-a-kind products from Finland, including the ‘birch bark bag' from world-famous designer Harri Koskinen.
Café Alvar A. was designed in conjunction with Select Service Partners, Artek, Iittala and the Alvar Aalto Foundation.
The design of the sales counter is reminiscent of the Savoy vase designed by Finland's famous designer and architect, Alvar Aalto. The classic fixtures and chairs were designed by the Finnish furniture company Artek, and the walls are decorated with ornaments such as a pixel arrangement of candlelight holders and vases by Iittala, the leading Finnish design company in homeware products,
The new café is definitely a spotlight on Finland and Finnish products and quality. In addition to making full use of Finnish design, the café observes the ‘The Best of Finland' philosophy.
The café specializes in high-quality, local products, such as cheese and reindeer. You can buy products from the café as souvenirs or gifts.
A highlight of Café Alvar A. is the birch bark giftaway bag by Harri Koskinen, one of Finland's most well-known contemporary designers. Café Alvar A is the only place in the world where this modern version of the classic birch bark bag can be found!
The new café seats 100 and is situated directly behind the Robert's Coffee café in one of the airports busiest gate areas (gates 23-25).
"I trust Café Alvar A. will become a new favourite for airport travellers. Located in the centre of the most lively gate area in the airport, it is a place where guests can unwind and relax, have a bite to eat or buy something uniquely Finnish to take with them as a present or business gift," says Kalle Ruuskanen, managing director of Select Service Partner Finland Oy.
Source: SSP Press release 10 June
