Rudi Merz

Rudi Merz (b. 1948) is a Swiss-born cabinetmaker, designer and interior architect who has lived and worked in Finland since the 1970s. He originally came to the country for an internship at Yrjö Kukkapuro’s interior architecture office and has since played a significant role in Finnish wood design – both as a craftsman and an educator.

Throughout his career, Merz has closely collaborated with master cabinetmaker Kari Virtanen and the brand Nikari. Since 1996, he has been a member of the cooperative of artists and artisans in Fiskars. In 2006, he was named Artisan of the Year by the Finnish Association of Designers, Ornamo.