Pauli E. Blomstedt

Pauli Ernesti Blomstedt (1900-1935) was a Finnish architect and designer known for his work in the styles of Nordic classicism and functionalism. P. E. Blomstedt (as he was commonly known as) came from a family of architects; his father Yrjö Blomstedt and younger brother Aulis Blomstedt were also well-known architects. In 1924 he married architect Märta von Willebrand (1899-1982) who he had studied with. Märta also became a well-known architect and together they set up their own architectural firm in 1926. Pauli and Märta had two children; Benita Pasanen (1924-2016) and Yrjö Blomstedt (1926-1994).

After graduating from Helsinki Technical University in 1922 P. E. Blomstedt worked for some of the most appreciated architects, such as Armas Lindgren and Bertel Jung. He also worked as an assistant to Gunnar Taucher. The breakthrough came to Blomstedt in 1926 when he won the architectural competition for the design of Liittopankki (Union Bank) House in Helsinki. The building was completed in 1929. He also won the competition for the Finnish Savings Bank in Helsinki, completed in 1930, a year after the Liittopankki House. Both of these buildings represented the Nordic classicism style. 

Blomstedt’s most appreciated works in the functionalist style are the Finnish Savings Bank in Kotka (1935) and the Pohjanhovi Hotel and restaurant in Rovaniemi (1935) which was sadly destroyed in the Lapland War. Blomstedt designed the shop and restaurant interiors for Alko from 1933. The final building he designed was the Kannonkoski Church, which was completed in 1938, three years after his death. 

Besides architecture, Blomstedt also designed furniture made of tubular steel. P. E. Blomstedt’s steel pipe furniture were among the most modern furniture designs of the early 20th century. Today they are as beautiful as ever. P. E. Blomstedt furniture has been manufactured by Tetrimäki in Finland  since the beginning of 1990.

The Post Deco Trolley 1400