Plastic Fantastic - Design from the beginning of the Plastic Age

Plastic has arrived at the Loviisa Town Museum! The Plastic Fantastic exhibition explores the history of plastic, Finnish design, and the role of Loviisa-based companies in utilizing this new material.

The Loviisa region played a significant role in the arrival of plastics to Finland. The plastics industry in Loviisa contributed to building a modern Finland through innovations in product development and design, which simplified and enhanced daily life.

The Loviisa region played a significant role in the introduction of plastic to Finland. The area's plastic industry brought innovation to product development and design, helping to build a modern Finland where plastic made everyday life easier and more beautiful. In the 1950s and 60s, plastic was still a novelty, and manufactured plastics was seen as a valuable design material. Companies in the Loviisa region collaborated with well-known designers such as Tapio Wirkkala and Yki Nummi. One of the most futuristic visions of plastic was the round Futuro house made of reinforced plastic, designed by Matti Suuronen. These spaceship-like buildings were also manufactured in Loviisa at Polykem Oy’s factory in Kuninkaankylä until the oil crises of the 1970s.

The objects on display in the exhibition were originally manufactured in Loviisa, and many have been used in local homes.