tuolityyppi

Tuolityyppi is a Finnish compound noun formed from tuoli (chair) and tyyppi (type, kind). It designates a category or class of chairs, typically used in furniture design, retail catalogs, and interior architecture documentation to refer to a specific kind of seating.

In practice, tuolityyppi functions as a descriptive label rather than a fixed technical term. It is commonly found in product descriptions, design briefs, and inventories to group chairs by function, form, or style. Examples of chair types that might be referred to as a tuolityyppi include ruokatuoli (dining chair) and toimistotuoli (office chair). The term can be combined with other modifiers, such as moderni tuolityyppi or puutuolityyppi, to convey more precise characteristics.

Relation to typology: The concept aligns with typology in design studies, assessing objects by shared features. Using tuolityyppi helps compare chairs across design eras, materials, ergonomics, and intended use, supporting planning, procurement, and academic analysis.

Limitations: Tuolityyppi is not a universally fixed lexical item in Finnish dictionaries; its meaning depends on context. As a descriptive label, its clarity relies on accompanying details that specify dimensions, materials, and function. See also: Finnish compound nouns, furniture typology, chair.