Perttu Mentula (b.1936) Finnish Architect & Interior Designers

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Modernist pedestal tables by Perttu Mentula, featuring sculptural trumpet bases in red and white lacquer.
Pedestal tables by Perttu Mentula, exemplifying late-modernist furniture design through bold colour, symmetry, and sculptural form.

Perttu Mentula (b.1936) was a Finnish architect and interior, exhibition, product, graphic, and furniture designer.

Career Summary

Between 1958-60, studied Taideteollinen Korkeakoulu, Helsinki. 1958-60, he was active as an interior and product designer in the offices of Antti Nurmesniemi and Timo Sarpaneva and of Toivo Korkonen and Reino Lamminsoila, all Helsinki; 1960-77, was active in his design studio; 1964-77, was a designer for Wartsila Shipyards, Helsinki; from 1977, was director of Studio Perttu Mentula Oy. 

Modular wooden fence by Perttu Mentula, featuring horizontal slats and structural cross-bracing.
Modular fence system by Perttu Mentula, demonstrating structural clarity, repetition, and restrained modernist detailing.

In 1970 and 1978-80, he was a board member of Ornamo (Federation of Industrial Arts), Helsinki; from 1974, a member of the Fine Art Commission, Helsinki Festival; in 1978-80, chair of SIO (Interior Architects Society), Helsinki; 1978, member, Representational Arts Commission; 1978, member, Idea Group; 1981- 83, vice-president, International Federation of Interior Designers; from 1981, executive committee and organizing committee, Design 81 Congress; 1981, coordinator, D’81 Creative Group; from 1982, design manager, Keriland Project, Kerimaki. Designs included 1971-74 Ringside hanging chairs, Rs 656 R by Avitom, and a 1961 sauna stool.

Finnish Furniture Ad

Recognition

He received 1963 first and second prizes in Export Furniture Com­petition, Helsinki; silver medal, 1964 (XIII) Triennale di Milano; two awards, International Lighting Competition, Tokyo; first prize, Scandinavian Environment and Furniture Competition, Copenhagen; first prize, Community Development Competition, Kerimaki. Appointed honorary member, AIPI (Italian Interior Archi­tects Assoc.). His work was shown at 1966 ‘Total Environment,’ Finnish Design Center, Helsinki; 1975 ‘Uniform-Project,’ Milan; 1977 Wood and Textile,’ Savonlinna Opera Festival; 1980 ‘Finnish Design’, Finlandia Hall, Helsinki.

A selection of his work

Table and six chairs , ca. 1960–1969 by Perttu Mentula
Table and six chairs, ca. 1960–1969 by Perttu Mentula

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing. https://amzn.to/3ElmSlL

Additional Reading

Wilcox, D. (1970). New design in wood. https://amzn.to/3G3xWV1

Aav, M., Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, D. C., McDuff, D., Museum, D., Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, D. C., Oyj, M., & Arnold, J. (2003). Marimekko: Fabrics, Fashion, Architecture. Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture, New York, and the Design Museum, Finland. https://amzn.to/3D7NEfC

Morgan, A. L., & Naylor, C. (1984). Contemporary Designers. Gale Research Company. https://amzn.to/3160K0l

Ornamo, S. K. L. (1962). The Ornamo Book of Finnish Design. Ornamo r.y. https://amzn.to/3E7EQbb

Taideteollisuusyhdistys, S. (1993). Form Function Finland. Finnish Society of Crafts and Design. https://amzn.to/3xAShOr

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