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Fun and functional furniture for kids It is a known fact that children today spend a lot of time in front of screens. Because of the minimal time used for physical activity, their basic motor skills are declining – something Gymi Furniture founder and head designer Christina Nurmi wanted to change. Her passion for the wellbeing of kids and teens was the driving force behind the brand, created to motivate children to move naturally and learn different skills along the way. By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Lilli Nurmi, Gymi Furniture
It all started in 2008 when Nurmi founded her company Gymicom Ltd and Gymi Kids’ and Teens’ Health Club. With a background as a gymnast, she wanted to guide young people into the world of movement by teaching them new skills and getting them motivated to move without it being a competition. The brand grew and today there are three clubs in the Helsinki region and one in Valkeakoski, Finland. Gymi is now a franchise concept, and the first Gymi outside Finland will be opening in Norway this year. 72 | Issue 111 | April 2018
“I had many parents and kids who loved the health club come up to me and ask how they could recreate it at home. As a result, we created Gymi Furniture, a set of multi-functional and activating furniture suited for kids of all ages, to bring the joy of motion into not only homes but also schools and other public places,” says Nurmi. As is common in Scandinavian design, form meets function also in Gymi Furniture. The design is clear-cut and
simple. “We have a summer house by the lake Saimaa, and the beautiful lake area as well as the Finnish birches have inspired me. My children have been a major influence and inspiration too. I have designed the furniture together with my husband Jiri Nurmi, and our daughter Lilli and son Veeti have been giving their priceless opinions along the way,” Nurmi smiles.
Furniture for public spaces Because of the high quality and multifunctionality of the furniture, Gymi Furniture is perfect for public places. New learning environments are made to inspire children and to activate them. In Finland, you can already find the furniture in a variety of schools and kindergartens. “We know that sitting in chairs is bad for our health, and that movement enhances learning. Our furniture replac-