News

Staff

15.03.2017

“Things will turn for the better!”


Who are you?

I’m Iiris Lahti, Residency Hostess at Saari Residence.

How did you end up working for the Kone Foundation?

It was a pure coincidence: my friend saw a job advertisement by the Kone Foundation in a newspaper and told me about it. Without her tip, I would never have learned about this vacancy.

What do you do at the Foundation?

My job includes a wide range of tasks, such as assisting the artists-in-residence in practical matters during their residential period and ensuring that the daily and weekly routines run smoothly. My work also includes the maintenance of furniture, fixtures and utility items in the residences as well as visitor accommodation and catering.

What’s the best part of your work?

I find inspiration in the beauty of the Saari Residence, as well as being able to work in a continuously developing work environment and meeting new people at the turn of residential periods. Every day is different, sometimes with surprises, which keeps me busy and curious.

And what’s the most challenging thing?

The biggest challenge is probably being able to provide good work conditions for each artist-in-residence and, overall, a successful residential period.  Another challenge is that every day is different: in the morning, you make a to-do list, but you may not be able to follow it.

If you could be given one super power, what would it be and why?

This is a hard question… I would probably want to ride on a broom! Sometimes, I just can’t run fast enough.

BIO:

Iiris Lahti, aged 56, is Residency Hostess at the Saari Residence, a residence for artists and researchers run by the Kone Foundation. She has qualified as a Clothing Industry Technician and Master of Hospitality Management.

Her family includes a son, Aappo, aged 16. At leisure time, Iiris enjoys going to museums and exhibitions, as well as hygge, despite it being out of fashion, she said.

Motto: Things will turn for the better!

 

16 March 2017