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FINNARC

Finnish Architecture FinnArc

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage retrieval system, without permission of the publisher PhotoCom Oy.

Publisher: PhotoCom Oy / A-Press Digital www.a-press.fi Editor: Risto Ala-Peijari Writing: Riitta Niskanen Translations: Translatinki Oy Layout: Mikko Ala-Peijari Book cover photo: JKMM First edition, July 2021 Copyright © PhotoCom Oy 2021 ISBN: 978-952-7309-03-2 Printing house: Printall AS

FINNARC Finnish Architecture

Foreword First of all, we would like to thank all of the architects and architects’ offices who contributed to the FinnArc book by telling their own story.

The primary purpose of FinnArc is to attract more international interest towards today’s Finnish architecture. A considerable number of design projects by the participating architects have been compiled in this book to be admired in the form of a traditional, physical volume, as well as a digital facsimile edition.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the global image of outstanding Finnish architecture relied heavily on the work of our several prominent architects. Masters such as Alvar Aalto, Reima Pietilä, Eliel and Eero Saarinen, etc., to mention just a few, achieved great and enduring renown in their time and became globally celebrated architects.

Modern times have given rise to a new and different set of challenges as regards architectural design. The competition for demanding global design commissions has become ever more intense. Despite the competition, many Finnish firms are doing quite well out in the world. With this book, we want to further solidify the image of modern Finnish architecture that is thriving and more than able to bear international comparison no matter which criteria are applied. This book provides a visual sample to drive home this fact. At the same time, it can inspire young people dreaming of a career as an architect or already seriously involved in studying architecture. This FinnArc edition is the first volume in a series of books on Finnish contemporary architecture. Our aim is to develop the book into a compilation to be published annually.

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Contents 10 16 22

Finland Pavilion Inspired by First Snow Finland at Expo 2020 Dubai Architects

FinnArc 7 Photo: Mika Huisman

Finland Pavilion Inspired by First Snow

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Finland Pavilion is called “Snow Cape”, or "Lumi" in Finnish, which means snow.

The pavilion was inspired by a thin white layer of first snow that covers the Finnish landscape at the beginning of every winter. The aim was to bring a fragment of Finnish nature to the UAE and Dubai.

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JKMM Architects, which was also the architect of Finland Pavilion at Shanghai Expo 2010, has designed a simple, yet iconic, structure, ensuring that a memorable visitor experience remains at the core of the architectural concept.

Inspiration The pavilion tells about the pure and clean Finnish nature. Every autumn, the Finnish landscape is covered by first snow, a pristine layer of white. Snow covers the whole country like a giant tent. The pavilion can also be regarded as a design object telling a Finnish story about the unique and long design and architectural heritage. From outside, the shape is simple yet refined; inside, a dynamic, open “gorge” is carved into the building. Inside the pavilion, the innovative surprise is a wooden heart and exhibitions. Waiting to be discovered, the pavilion offers a cool shade for Expo visitors. The best innovations are simple yet intelligent, which is also the approach of this architectural concept.

Fusion of Cultures The Finland Pavilion building visually incorporates both Finnish and Arabic cultures. The exterior of the pavilion is as white as snow, and the entrance gives an impression of arriving in an Arabic tent. The Finnish natural design and innovation are combined with Arabic visual features.

The Finnish pavilion is a meeting space - the "Finland Majlis" - a tent where connections between Finnish and Arabic minds can be fostered.

Five Elements The Finland Pavilion is surrounded by two lakes in the form of shallow water pools. The lakes cool the air and tell about Finnish nature.

All visitors walk into the pavilion along a surface covered with Finnish granite. The central gorge space boasts curved wooden surfaces. It is a sculptural space inspired by Finnish nature, ideal for meeting someone face to face. It is also a multifunctional space for events and activities, as well as the key space for greeting visitors.

The light exterior envelope gently embraces the inner body of the pavilion. The surface of the snow forms a sheltering, tent-like structure that provides visitors with a cool shade from the sun.

The pavilion’s signboard is placed, as a separate sail-like element, at the front plaza.

Smart Principles Finland Pavilion also embodies functionality and practicality, which have always been at the core of Finnish innovation.

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The pavilion is divided into two levels: The entrance level is dominated by an open central void surrounded by the main exhibition hall. In the exhibition, Finland will be presented as a destination for business, partnerships, investment opportunities and travel in a sequence of sectors. The latest innovations reside primarily in the corporate world; consequently, technological innovations made

by Finnish globally operating companies are a strong element at the exhibition. Finnish nature, travel destinations, education, health & wellbeing, as well as digital solutions, are all incorporated into the comprehensive exhibition of Finland.

The upper level, with VIP and conference areas, brings the meeting of minds to a deeper level. In this multifunctional area, business partners, decision makers, politicians, administrations and all other invited groups can meet, face to face, in a cool, shaded haven inside the Finnish-Arabic tent, or the "Finland Majlis".

Sustainability has been a guiding theme throughout the design and construction process. With the exception of a limited number of Finnish materials being imported, Snow Cape is being built, almost entirely, by using material from the local market, thereby reducing an environmental burden that would be caused by any unnecessary logistics and transportations. The simple design of Snow Cape minimises unnecessary additional claddings, enabling us to decrease the overall use of materials.

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Finland at Expo 2020 Dubai – Sharing Future Happiness

Finland is proud to be participating in Expo 2020 Dubai from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022. The main theme of Expo 2020 Dubai is Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, with the subthemes Mobility, Sustainability, Opportunity.

In an annual UN-sponsored report, Finland was named the happiest place in the world for the fourth year running, and the central theme of our Snow Cape pavilion is “Sharing Future Happiness”. The meaning of Finnish happiness runs deeper than just pure joy. It is built upon trust and safety, a stable society, education and functionality. It is made possible by innovations in industry and society. Happiness is contentment and confidence in the future.

The Finland exhibition will share an in-depth story of Finland, providing visitors with experiences and information to showcase the foundations upon which Finland’s happiness is based. These include continuous development and innovation, sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions and extensive international cooperation.

Together with over 100 globally recognized Finnish partner companies, including KONE, Metso Outotec, Konecranes, Nokia, Wärtsilä, Valmet, Fortum and Fiskars Group, we will be presenting world-class solutions in areas such as natural resources and energy, ICT and digitalization, smart cities, technology, education, health, design and tourism.

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A Journey Through Finland’s Key Strengths The Snow Cape pavilion will represent Finland’s values and brand image alongside the sustainable innovations of the partner companies and will serve as a unique platform for business and cultural connections between the UAE and Finland. Over the course of six months, the pavilion will host events by partner companies and industry leaders. The design group “Symbiosis”, comprising four prestigious design companies: Futudesign, Sun Effects, Flatlight Creative and JKMM Architects, won the design tender for Finland’s exhibition concept.

Under the central theme of ‘Sharing Future Happiness’ and subthemes circular economy, sustainability and innovations, the Snow Cape pavilion will present the pillars of Finnish happiness by highlighting the symbiosis of people, pure nature and technology. Visitors will be taken on a journey through Finland’s key strengths: education and know-how, functionality and wellbeing, and nature and sustainability.

A key sub-theme of the Finnish pavilion is the circular economy, with a specific focus on the concepts of happiness, innovation and sustainability. These are all values Finland holds in high regard, and the pavilion exhibition’s contents will lead back to these themes. Through the partner companies, the exhibition tells the story of Finland, her positive country image and values, Finnish exports, internationalization and competitiveness, and her status as a destination-of-choice for tourism and foreign investment.

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The UAE is Finland's second biggest export country in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia. Finland’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai provides a unique chance for Finnish companies to introduce their know-how and solutions. Visitors can expect to meet companies with a problem-solving, innovative approach that has led to the development of cutting-edge solutions.

Expo 2020 Dubai also presents us with the opportunity to remind visitors that Finland offers companies in the UAE and the wider GCC region a competitive, stable and predictable operating environment with good flight connections into Europe and beyond.

More info at www.finland-dubaiexpo2020.com

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Finland’s History At World Expos Since 1851, World Expos have helped humanity make sense of change and chart a more progressive future by gathering people and nations under the common banners of education, innovation and cooperation.

Photos: InigoBujedoAguirre, Iwan Baan & Hanne Granberg

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The World Expo is one of the oldest and largest international events globally, taking place every five years and lasting six months. It is a festival for all, where everyone can experience, explore, innovate and have fun by sharing ideas and working together.

Hosted by a different country each time, World Expos provide the opportunity to educate, share innovation, promote progress and foster cooperation. Visitors from all over the world come together, including countries, companies, international organisations, private sector entities, governmental bodies and ministries and the general public.

Everyone is invited to participate, and it is this diversity that makes World Expos a unique and multifaceted event, where extraordinary exhibitions, diplomatic encounters, business meetings, public debates and live shows can all take place at the same time.

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In 1900, Finland was given her first pavilion at the World Expo in Paris.

Since her independence in 1917, Finland has participated in various large Expos around the world 17 times, usually with her own Pavilion.

In other mid-size expos, Finland’s participation has mainly been in collaboration with other Nordic countries. However, in 2017, Finland had its own pavilion in Astana and received the Gold Award in the Theme Development category.

Finland has continued to participate actively in specialized and World Expos. The unique design of the Finnish pavilions takes inspiration from the country’s nature and design heritage as we tell the story of Finland and the participating Finnish companies. Finland is the greenest country in the world, with clean, fresh air, pure water, green forests, clean energy, and clean technology. Finland’s Nordic nature inspires us to find creative and sustainable solutions in all areas of design This was also recognized at Expo Shanghai 2010, where we received the Gold Award in the Pavilion Design category.

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Architects

From North to South

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24 28 34 42 50 56 66 72 82 90 96 102 110 116 126 132 138 146 152 162 168 174 180 187 192 198 204 214 220 226 232 240

Aihio Arkkitehdit Anttinen Oiva Architects Architects Davidsson Tarkela Architects NRT ARK-house arkkitehdit Arkkitehdit LSV Arkkitehdit Latva ja Vaara Arkkitehtipalvelu Arkkitehtitoimisto A-Konsultit Arkkitehtitoimisto HKP Avarc Architects Avarrus Architects AW2 Architects B & M Architects Bluet BST-Arkkitehdit Cederqvist & Jäntti Architects H&M Arkkitehdit Helin & Co Architects Jaakkola Architects Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects LINJA ARCHITECTS Lukkaroinen Architects Partanen & Lamusuo Parviainen Architects PAVE Architects PES-Architects Sigge Architects Siren Architects Tähti-Set Architects UKI Arkkitehdit VSU maisema-arkkitehdit

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The principal designer of the project: Piia Viitanen

Aihio Arkkitehdit

Photos: Wellu Hämäläinen

We are an architecture firm located in Tampere. Our design projects include hospitals and health centres, university campuses, shopping centres, residential blocks, railway and infrastructure projects, as well as land-use planning. Aihio Arkkitehdit employs a total of 80 designers.

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Aihio Arkkitehdit

The Aurum building is located in the cultural heritage environment of medieval Turku. As an echo from the past, the facade features the same material in the same tone of colour that was used in the older buildings in the Yliopistonmäki area, but on a different scale.

Aurum Building, Turku In Turku, the city’s long history is visible in the urban fabric, with the layers of the built environment spanning an exceptionally long period of time. The Aurum building is embedded in the cultural environment of medieval Turku and located within the area of a national urban park. As an echo from the past, the facade features the same material in the same tone of colour that was used in the older buildings in the Yliopistonmäki area, but on a different scale.

The principal designer in the project was architect Pia Viitanen.

The location of the new building was positioned to optimise its ability to serve the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University.

Aurum is the first joint new-construction venture between the two universities, which further enhances the project’s significance.

The main users of the building are the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Åbo Akademi University and the Department of Chemistry at the University of Turku. Other users include, among others, the University of Turku Biodiversity Unit and Library.

The shared building entails teaching and research facilities, laboratory facilities, meeting and office facilities, as well as auxiliary facilities related to these. The building also houses teaching and laboratory facilities shared by the two universities.

The design work was steered by an idea of the lobby as a shared meeting place of the entire campus area. When you step in through the main entrance, you are enveloped by the timber battening lining a full-height atrium that soars all the way up to the skylights. The concrete stairs and landings wind upwards from the entrance level to the fifth floor, following the rhythm and direction of the rise up the Yliopistonmäki hill.

Environmentally responsible solutions also constituted an important factor. The estimated lifespan of the Aurum building is at least a hundred years. In accordance with the principles of sustainable development, heating and cooling for the building is produced by an ecological geothermal energy system. A solar power system and nesting boxes for endangered swifts have been installed on the roof.

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Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo

Photo: Mika Huisman

Anttinen Oiva Architects Anttinen Oiva Architects is a Helsinki-based architecture firm, established by Selina Anttinen and Vesa Oiva in 2006. Our ongoing projects include urban planning, public and office buildings, as well as housing projects chiefly in the growing Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Our aim is to create environments that are sustainable, versatile and inspiring.

Our design approach at Anttinen Oiva is adaptive and analytical, and it all starts with an open discussion. The work is always informed by the context – a dialogue between the project and the time, place and local culture. Our office is always intent on finding new alternatives to meet the challenges posed by continued growth, and we are equally intrigued by individual and flexible solutions.

Out of our design projects, the Supercell Corporate Headquarters, the Katajanokan Laituri building and the University of Helsinki Main Library are very representative of our architectural expression, which combines a strong connection to the context with experiential and evocative, yet timeless and dignified architecture.

The principal designers of the projects: Vesa Oiva Selina Anttinen

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Anttinen Oiva Architects

The block is the flagship of Finnish timber construction and has attracted international interest as a fine example of the multitude of ways in which wood can be utilised in construction.

Supercell Headquarters, Helsinki Anttinen Oiva Architects specialises in designing timber-construction buildings. An example of this is the corporate headquarters of Finnish mobile game developer Supercell, which is part of the largest timber-construction city block ever implemented in an urban environment in Finland.

The block is the flagship of Finnish timber construction and has attracted international interest as a fine example of the multitude of ways in which wood can be utilised in construction. The whole merges timeless architecture with sustainable development and an urban sense of community. In addition to the corporate offices, the block also houses two multistorey residential buildings and a hotel.

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Photos: Tuomas Uusheimo

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Anttinen Oiva Architects

Katajanokan Laituri, Helsinki Katajanokan Laituri is a timber-construction hybrid building that will be home to the new Stora Enso head office. The building will also boast a hotel and commercial premises, as well as a restaurant. The site is located in the Katajanokka district, in an urban environment that is significant from the point of view of cityscape.

The area is an exemplar of carbon-neutral, sustainable development and the opportunities of timber construction in a sensitive urban environment. The building will be urban, yet in touch with nature, a robust and calm element in its environment. The interior design and materials reflect the dense but serene atmosphere of a Finnish forest.

The architecture respects its surroundings, expanding the city’s silhouette in harmony with the old environment. The building has a dynamic yet open and inviting presence, activating its surroundings and the city’s waterfront.

The building represents sustainable architecture in every sense of the word. Due to the flexible structural solution, the spaces can be modified for varied uses over the building’s life cycle.

Katajanokan Laituri also exemplifies carbon-neutral construction, embodying the innovative use of Stora Enso’s solid wood products and smart technological solutions. The spatial solutions enable diverse and flexible interaction between people and the different functions of the building.

The inventive Katajanokan Laituri represents modern yet timeless architecture. The formal solutions create a distinct identity that relies on the history of the city, the Nordic forest and a close relationship with nature.

Katajanokan Laituri exemplifies carbonneutral construction, embodying the innovative use of Stora Enso’s solid wood products and smart technological solutions.

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Photos: Kuvatoimisto Kuvio Oy

Architects Davidsson Tarkela Established in 1985, Architects Davidsson Tarkela is an architecture firm based in Helsinki, with a staff of 17 experienced professionals working in administrative duties and architectural design.

Extensive expertise, close cooperation with the client and a networked design approach with other experts are at the core of our operations. Our implemented projects can be found in Finland, Berlin, Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Our work focusses on challenging new-construction projects in central locations and the renovation of historically valuable buildings. The pursuit of a carefully considered balance between our architectural heritage, resource-effective building design and a good urban environment guides all of our design efforts.

Working within the built environment gives us the opportunity to promote sustainable architecture and the objectives of a carbonneutral society. Sustainable development and circular economy are key areas in the continued development of our operations.

The principal designers of the projects: Aki Davidsson Jaana Tarkela

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Architects Davidsson Tarkela

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The pursuit of a carefully considered balance between our architectural heritage, resource-effective building design and a good urban environment guides all of our design efforts.

Photo: Kuvatoimisto Kuvio Oy

Clarion Hotel and Congress Centre, Helsinki The Clarion Hotel Helsinki tower acts as an accent in the city structure when entering the newbuilt harbour area of Jätkäsaari.

The neighbouring magazine building L2 (designer Lars Sonck 1935), a good example of last part of the 1930´s late-classical industrial architecture, is connected directly to the hotel lobby. The seven-meter-high lobby connects the 14 hotel floors to the event and congress centre of the old harbour magazine.

The hotel floors consist of 425 variating sized rooms with a sky bar, sauna, pool, and fitness areas on top. The sky bar and the cantilevered gazed-end-pool provides the guests a spectacular view over the Baltic see, harbour and the city of Helsinki. The ground floor also houses a café and bar with outdoor areas at the harbour bay.

The listed harbour magazine L2 is converted to an event and congress space for 2000 guests. The originally unheated warehouse building with its internal structural measures was ideal for the congress use. It allowed us to maintain the original red brick exterior walls by Lars Sonck untouched. Only changes in the exterior architecture are the added windows in the plastered walls of the terraced loading balconies. The original concrete columns and surfaces of the interiors are playing an important part in the spatial atmosphere.

The interiors of the hotel and the event and congress centre are designed to support each other. The exposed concrete surfaces of the hotel lobby converse with the old rough and painted concrete surfaces of the magazine. The furniture in the public areas and in the rooms consists of modern gems like Ray and Charles Eams lounge chairs and other Vitra products. The restaurant in the magazine with 500 seats is furnished totally with Alvar Aalto Artek designs.

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Photos: Marko Huttunen

Architects Davidsson Tarkela

The exhibition building stands at the junction between the rich early 20th-century and the disciplined 1960s architecture, forming the focal point of the new culture block.

Kuopio Museum Renovation and Extension The extension connects the Kuopio Cultural History Museum, the Kuopio Natural History Museum and the Kuopio Main Library, while also improving the accessibility of the various parts. Architect Jaana Tarkela was the principal designer in the project.

The museum, which was first built in 1907, has now been restored to its original appearance. The previous extension, added on top of the wing originally used to house fire-fighting equipment, was demolished, and the original fenestration on the western elevation and the shape of the tower were restored.

The tall, bright and airy connecting part of the new museum extension joins the museum with the library lobby, forming a new culture complex named Kantti.

The new entrance hall connects the facilities that house the museum’s permanent exhibition with the library and the spaces for temporary exhibitions. Visitor services, the museum shop and educational facilities are also located in connection with the lobby. The former fire department equipment storage now houses the museum café.

Equipped with the latest exhibition technology, the space for temporary exhibitions is located in the extension, and the extension is also home to the museum’s workspaces, photography and exhibition planning spaces, as well as storage rooms and facilities for creating exhibitions. The new exhibition building stands at the junction between the rich early 20th-century and the disciplined 1960s architecture, forming the focal point of the new culture block. The museum extension is a gateway to a new kind of cultural community for the residents of Kuopio.

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Photos: Marko Huttunen

Architects Davidsson Tarkela

The new extension improved the utility of the building significantly by introducing a modern, modifiable frame with a facade consisting of glass and copper surfaces that sit naturally in their environment.

Unioninkatu 30, Helsinki The property popularly known as Wuorio House is a unique example of early 20th-century commercial architecture in Helsinki (conversion designed by architect Herman Gesellius in 1909), constituting one of the finest art nouveau buildings in the city.

On the lowest four levels, the street front has maintained the appearance that dates back to 1914, as has the decorative recess in front of the entrance way. There are also some well-preserved spaces inside the building.

The extension was designed to sit atop the lower, back-facing wings.

The former U-shaped layout was rounded off to form a full O around a glass-roofed, spatially multiform light well. Complete with a modifiable frame, the new extension improved the utility of the building significantly. Commercial premises can be located on the street level, while the upper floors have been designed for office use. Architect Jaana Tarkela served as the principal designer in the project.

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The principal designers of the projects: Jyrki Tasa Raimoranta Kari Teemu Tuomi

Architects NRT The origins of our Helsinki-based architecture firm date back to the 1970s and winning entries in architectural competitions. Today, the head architects are Kari Raimoranta, Jyrki Tasa and Teemu Tuomi.

We have focussed on renovation and housing projects, as well as sports and educational facilities. We also offer planning related to project surveys, as well as land-use planning and interior design.

All of our design work is based on recognising the valuable existing features and adapting the new architecture to these.

Sustainable development has always been part of our ideology.

Brainstorming modifiable spaces and buildings and the use of sustainable materials constitute a particularly important premise in the design work. A new element to the work is added by matters related to circular economy and, among other aspects, the integration of energy production, storage and the monitoring of these in the buildings.

The library building by Alvar Aalto on the Otaniemi campus of the former Helsinki University of Technology was designed for the needs of its time and no longer met the current objectives of Aalto University as a learning centre and showcase for the entire university.

The required extensive reworking of the building’s functionality was, however, reconcilable with the objectives of building preservation. The main areas were restored to their original appearance, and the only changes were related to functionality and furnishing solutions. The large, mainly underground book storage facilities were converted into customer spaces.

The project was awarded the Finlandia Prize for Architecture in 2017.

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Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo

Harald Herlin Learning Centre, Espoo

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Photo: Wellu Hämäläinen

Architects NRT

Our office went to great lengths to find subtle solutions for the necessary changes.

Photo: Mikael Anttila

Helsinki Olympic Stadium Refurbishment Designing the refurbishment of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium was a joint venture by K2S and NRT. The renovations and modifications to the national sports sanctuary were carried out in collaboration with the Finnish Heritage Agency, other authorities and the users of the stadium.

The design work had to be mindful of the Stadium’s identity by preserving the original architecture. Our office went to great lengths to find subtle solutions for the necessary changes.

Upon its completion, the Olympic Stadium refurbishment received the Finlandia Prize for Architecture in 2020.

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Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo

Photos: Antti Luutonen

Punanotkonkatu 2, Helsinki This residential building stands at the corner of an old closed block, blending in with its venerable neighbours through the means of contemporary architecture. The street-front architecture has an air of serenity, while also offering subtle variation.

The residents access the building through the corner entrance way, which is a start to the series of spaces leading to the inner courtyard that serves as an outdoor living area.

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Architects NRT

Varied works of light art can be programmed to be displayed on the facades.

Harjuskortteli Block, Kalasatama, Helsinki The location of the 136-unit residential building at a street junction steered the design of the building mass into an ascending point. The resulting architectural piece of sculpture is simple, yet unique. The architectural language related by the building mass is reiterated in the free-form ramps leading to a playground and residential yard area on second-floor level.

The mono-material, expansive glass facades link the building to the scale of the surrounding urban fabric.

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Photo: PRP Oy

The parking facility serves the majority of the Marinranta residential block located between the Länsiväylä motorway and the waterfront.

The facade facing Länsiväylä is clad in perforated marine-grade aluminium sheet. The facade constitutes an intensely three-dimensional work of environmental art with its folds and triangular shapes.

The road-side face is animated in varying ways by the light hitting it at different times of the day; night-time illumination is provided by spotlights. The sporadic turning on of the interior lights gives the building its own kinetic character.

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Photo: PRP Oy

Marinranta Parking Facility, Espoo

Architects NRT

Kruunuparkki Parking Facilities 1–5, Kruunuvuorenranta, Helsinki

Photo: Johan Mether

Photo: Teemu Tuomi

The cylindrical shape of the parking facilities is reminiscent of the oil containers that used to be housed on the site. The buildings bear a close resemblance to each other, but the colouring gives each one its own distinctive character. The spiralling layout of the buildings is both functional and sculptural.

The different surfaces of the vertical slats on the exteriors have been painted in different shades of the same main colour in such a way that the cylindrical shape produces the visual effect of a colour gradient. At night, the buildings are illuminated to give off a dim coloured glow.

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The principal designers of the project: Pentti Kareoja Jukka Salonen

ARK-house arkkitehdit Oy was established in 1995 as a joint venture of three previously operating architecture firms. The firm has been involved in all areas related to architectural design from land-use planning to building design.

As regards building design, ARK-house arkkitehdit has designed a diverse array of public and residential buildings alike. The clients have included, among others, the Finnish State, the Cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Vaasa, Jyväskylä and Kuopio, as well as the University of Helsinki. In the field of residential architecture, the clientele comprises large contractors, such as NCC, Skanska, YIT, Lujatalo, Sato, Peab and ATT. Over the last decade, the firm’s projects implemented in Helsinki have included, for instance, the new University of Helsinki Teacher Training School in Viikki, the Heltech audiovisual communications school in Arabianranta, the Kojamo office in Pikku-Huopalahti and the extension of Hartwall Arena. At present, ARK-house arkkitehdit is partnering with Steven Holl Architects as the local designer of the Meander residential block that will be erected in Töölö, Helsinki.

Of the implemented projects, the University of Helsinki Viikki Campus Library is among the pioneer works in Finnish sustainable construction. In the library project, the principles of sustainable construction were fused, at the architect’s behest, as an essential element of the architecture, and the technical building services were integrated to serve these objectives.

The firm’s founding partners include Architects SAFA Markku Erholtz, Hannu Huttunen, Pentti Kareoja and Heljä Herranen. The firm currently employs 15 persons.

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Photos: Jussi Tiainen

ARK-house arkkitehdit

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ARK-house arkkitehdit

The sculpturesque character of the tower is highlighted by the roofline with an incline that mimics the surrounding sloped terrain.

Vaahterakoti Assisted Living Facility, Järvenpää Vaahterakoti is a home-like assisted living facility for the elderly in Järvenpää. The building comprises 74 residential units and 88 beds.

Commissioned by the City of Järvenpää, the building adds to the pre-existing Jampankaaren palvelupiha complex.

The mass of the building is organised into two parts: a six-storey tower block, which also serves as a landmark along a main traffic route, and a two-storey slab block. The sculpturesque character of the tower is highlighted by the roofline with an incline that mimics the surrounding sloped terrain. Architecturally speaking, the building constitutes a mono-material, sculptural piece. Built on a slope, the lower level of Vaahterakoti merges with the space of a public square.

The lower level also houses a small restaurant, for instance. The upper level, then, is linked to the predating Jampankaaren palvelupiha assisted living facility.

The appearance of the building is characterised by the use of a single material. This homogeneity is carried across both by the intense, vibrant colouring and the pronounced grooving of the concrete surface. The colour has been rendered as a mix of three pigments. The exterior of the canopy structure in connection with the north-facing main entrance has been implemented in graphic concrete, featuring graphics designed by Aimo Katajamäki. Upon closer inspection, the pattern is revealed to consist of subtle bird-motif ornamentation.

The footprint of the tower block is triangular. Each floor houses its own “home base” or “nest” with access to a large glazed-in balcony resembling a conservatory. The adjoining escape route has been implemented as a cylindrical shaft.

Vaahterakoti meets strict environmental and health criteria. It was built from health-promoting and safe materials, and the building is energy-efficient and equipped with good sound insulation.

ARK-house arkkitehdit Oy was in charge of the architectural design of Vaahterakoti. The principal designer was architect Pentti Kareoja, and the project architect was Jukka Salonen.

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ARK-house arkkitehdit

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The principal designers of the projects: Eeva Korhonen Janne Laukka Juha Luoma Markus Seppänen Tobias Tommila

Arkkitehdit LSV Arkkitehdit LSV is an architecture firm established in 1986. We have acquired broad experience in diverse areas of design from urban and regional planning to private homes and from public buildings to interior designs. Our partners include architects Eeva Korhonen, Janne Laukka, Juha Luoma, Markus Seppänen and Tobias Tommila.

Over the years, we have achieved success in several architectural competitions in Finland and abroad. Our work is anchored in strong experience and fresh ideas. In each project, one of our five partners is actively involved in the design process, steering the work and bearing the overall responsibility for the project.

We always seek to look at things from the client’s perspective. The design process is based on a dialogue between designer and client.

To us, every project presents a unique challenge.

We are open to new ideas and constantly on the lookout for a more holistic design approach. This way, our solutions cover the entire whole from the larger scale to every small detail. We seek to increase the value of each and every project with technologically, economically, functionally and aesthetically optimised architecture.

As architects, we are committed to building a sustainable future.

We are members of the Green Building Council Finland, which promotes a carbon-neutral circular economy and a more sustainable way of life. We believe in working together, and we use up-to-date working methods.

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The functional logics of the building are based on new perceptions on learning. The building boasts an abundance of spaces applicable to varied modes of study, generating an environment that fosters interaction.

Kampusareena, Tampere The Kampusareena building at the Tampere University Hervanta Campus is a multifunctional service facility. It represents a new philosophy of university operations. The functional logics of the building are also based on new perceptions on learning. The building boasts an abundance of spaces applicable to varied modes of study, generating an environment that fosters interaction.

The building houses the central campus functions, such as the library, main student restaurant and student services. In addition, Kampusareena is home to technology businesses, as well as another café & restaurant, a hair salon and an accounting company.

The design work was carried out according to strict ecological, technical and functional quality criteria.

In terms of the massing, the exterior architecture relies on solutions designed for the large scale. An architectural and functional element of particular importance is the roof-top garden that provides a calm area for lounging, socialising and studying.

The interior architecture is pragmatic and freer in form.

Architects Juha Luoma (principal designer), Tobias Tommila and Samppa Hannikainen were in charge of designing the project.

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Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos, Inari Sajos is the centre of the linguistic and cultural autonomy of the Sámi people in Finland. The building is located in the village of Inari, with courtyards that face various directions outlining a four-point shape that was built around the valuable, slow-growing trees on the property.

The untreated, greying wood surfaces of the facade link the building with the wooded landscape along River Juutuanjoki. The vertical boards running from the ground to the eaves at varying intervals create a unified look, also providing varying levels of transparency, depending on the angle from which the building is observed. Wood is also emphasised in the interior, but applied with a subtler and more polished finish.

The culture centre houses a wide range of operations from archives and offices to a library and studio facilities. The diverse spaces are divided into the different points of the building. The meandering shape of the lobby is the central part of the building, it is formed around and between the oval shapes of the Parliament Hall and auditorium.

Architects Janne Laukka, Tuomas Niemelä and Milla Parkkali were in charge of the architectural design of Sajos.

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The untreated, greying wood surfaces of the facade link the building with the wooded landscape along the Juutuanjoki river.

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Photos: Kuvatoimisto Kuvio Oy, Martin Sommerschield

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Due to careful detailing and skilled carpentry, the end result has a polished finish that blends well with its surroundings.

Taaborinvuori Summer Café and Sound Control Booth, Nurmijärvi The café building serves the large numbers of visitors attending events arranged at the Taaborinvuori museum and culture area by the Palojoki river in Nurmijärvi. Historical buildings have been relocated to the museum and culture area, housing exhibitions showcasing life in the early 20th century. The area is also home to an open-air summer theatre.

The design brief was to create a building that would withstand the test of time and wear, while also honouring traditional building methods.

The café and sound control booth serve as a calm backdrop to the stage area. A partially covered deck connects the two parts of the complex. The twin buildings are clad in Siberian larch, which will grey to match the surrounding buildings within a few years.

Wood was used in a multitude of ways in the project. Due to careful detailing and skilled carpentry, the end result has a polished finish that blends well with its surroundings.

The principal designer in the project was architect Eeva Korhonen.

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The principal designers of the projects: Jorma Latva Markku Vaara Katja Katajaniemi

Arkkitehdit Latva ja Vaara Arkkitehdit Oy Latva ja Vaara was established in 2011, when two small architecture studios wished to take on more demanding projects.

The first joint project, a challenging renovation of a building with internal air issues, proved the collaboration to be effective, encouraging the partners to seek further expansion. The renovation project was co-designed by all three partners of the new firm: architects Jorma Latva and Markku Vaara with interior architect Katja Katajaniemi.

Former Electricity Works Building Renovation, Lahti 2011–2013 The old building of the Lahti electricity works was built in 1908 and converted to office use in 1947. The renovation began with a separate demolition job. This was beneficial from the point of view of the design work, as the building was revealed to require quite extensive demolition work. It also gave us the time to work on the implementation concept with the developer and the future users of the building.

The renovation and renewal extended to all elements of the building. The objective was to repair and rebuild the external shape of the building to match the previous status. Components and echoes of earlier phases in the building’s history were reintroduced to the details and colouring.

The interior spaces were chiefly rebuilt into modern office premises. When new elements are combined with the old, the end result is a living and intriguing working environment.

After the renovation project, we have mainly focussed on designing public buildings. The largest projects have entailed designing and renovating schools, daycare centres and office premises.

We aim to design the facilities in a way that ensures healthy, safe and pleasant activities in the buildings. Historical ties are an essential element of cultural continuity and local roots, which are required to achieve ecological sustainability and social acceptance.

The design solutions also have to be flexible and modifiable at a reasonable cost, and the materials need to be maintainable, repairable and recyclable.

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Länsiharju School Renovation and Extension, Lahti 2015–2018 The project comprised a school building constructed in 1932 and expanded in 1991, which was to be renovated and remodelled into a primary school for 600 students. The commission also included a building history survey, participation in project planning and landscape designing. After the project plan was completed, the designing of a new physical education and student services building was further added to the project.

A qualitative factor that worked in our favour in the bidding competition was a report that we had compiled, describing the problems entailed in the project, a potential solution, as well as the means to engage the users and the utilisation of a data model. A 3D inventory model was made of the old building to serve as baseline material for the design work.

To start off the project, we organised meetings in which an educator familiar with the new national core curriculum advised us on the objectives and opportunities of the curriculum reform. Working groups established by the school staff commented on the designs for the school facilities and the schoolyard. We opened a discussion platform to facilitate communication open to all parties and posted plan drawings on this forum. This also supplied us with relevant information as regards the costs to aid us in adjusting the programme to the old building.

Through the building history survey, we were well-informed on the structuring principles of the original building, in addition to its hierarchy, materials, details and colours. The spatial hierarchy was restored by building a new main entrance and restoring the old staircase, turning it into the main stairway, among other measures.

The new spatial programme included the conversion of the central corridors in the classroom wing into learning spaces. To bring in more light, glass cases with sliding doors were added between the classrooms and the corridor.

The new Länsiharju sports hall was also built on the school property. The facades were produced with a structure that enabled the implementation of a piece of graphic glass art measuring more than 300 square metres. The piece was designed by graphic designer Jaana Lamppu-Blick.

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Langinkoski School, Kotka 2017–2019 The Langinkoski school is located on a rocky sloped plot between two local roads. In addition to the architectural design, our overall responsibilities included structural design and the designing of technical building services.

The footprint of the building is based on three blocks of spaces linked via common areas with glass walls. The canteen and media room, as well as the auditorium stairs connecting these, lie at the centre of the building. The teaching spaces are arranged in three floors around the central area. The whole supports modifiable learning environments in accordance with the national core curriculum.

The school’s users participated in the planning and designing via a shared seminar and workshops. In addition, we offered them the opportunity to comment on the designs in the plan draft phase.

Our firm seeks to introduce colour and natural materials to interior spaces designed for children. An important element in the school’s interior was added by a large work of art designed by artist Marko Turunen, which was printed onto the acoustic panels circling the top of the space.

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The footprint of the building is based on three blocks of spaces linked via common areas with glass walls.

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The principal designers of the projects: Jan Niukkanen Tero Wéman Ulla Saarinen

Arkkitehtipalvelu At the beginning of 2009, we were a small office of four designers with a strong shared vision. We believed, and continue to believe, that investing in people’s wellbeing generates motivation and a genuine commitment to working together. This was the origin of Arkkitehtipalvelu Oy, Finland’s largest architecture company with the heart of a small practice.

We are a community of professionals inspired by a genuine drive to do things together – and better. We design not only for our clients, but with them. Creating a shared vision is our guiding light when designing homes, learning and working environments or urban spaces.

To achieve the objectives of each project, requires the ability to listen and face others as partners. Partnership is our means to creating a shared vision of success, in which innovation is always taking on new shapes and forms.

In addition to innovative architectural design, we offer our clients a wide variety of additional services, such as interior and landscape design, BIM coordination and virtual space services. We have offices in six cities across Finland.

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Photo: Janne Ulvinen

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Wood has a strong presence in the school.

Students and staff have given positive feedback on the good acoustics and the cosy atmosphere created by the wood surfaces.

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"It has always been part of my ideology to design buildings together with the users", says Tero Wéman. The staff of the entire school and daycare centre, the children with their parents, as well as the villagers and municipal decision-makers were all involved in designing the eco-school.

Satavuo School, Laukaa The school, built using ecological wood-construction, is the focal point of the Vuontee village in Laukaa and brings together school age children and younger children attending early education from three neighbouring villages.

The eco-school concept is an innovative construction initiative, combining a healthy, long-life building with a sustainable energy supply, locally produced food and spatial solutions that meet the demands of modern pedagogy.

Designed for roughly one hundred students, the school building was built using solid-wood CLT technology. In the spirit of the new national core curriculum, the design of the school places more emphasis on an open, shared and multiform learning environment in lieu of conventional classrooms.

The building is divided into three blocks, with a central, free-form common section connecting all three. One school block is reserved for the school and daycare activities, the second houses the gymnasium and the arts and crafts classroom, and the third accommodates the administrative functions and the kitchen. The modules can be modified or expanded easily and safely, as necessary.

“The idea behind the modular structure was to create a concept that can be applied to several other projects in Finland and, perhaps, also abroad”, explains Tero Wéman, principal designer of the project.

The frame of the modern school building consists of cross-laminated solid wood elements sourced from Finland. The roof structures are also made of wood, as is the external cladding. “I like designing wooden buildings, and the use of wood continues to increase in the Finnish construction industry”, Wéman adds.

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Sydän-Laukaa School, Laukaa The extension of the Sydän-Laukaa school is a new interpretation of classic all-round education and of the power of community. The tension in the exterior architecture is created by the composition, in which the two white sections of the extension appear to have snapped apart, as it were, by the pervasive force of the dark core section.

Located in the centre of the building, the ‘heart-space’ is characterised by a strong sense of community. It is a common space for the young students, where diverse ideas can merge. The joint use of the new extension and the old part of the school between the lower and upper secondary schools only adds to the richness and diversity of the space.

“The space opens up beautifully towards the outdoor landscape, flooding it with natural light. The central heart-space is a fascinating blend of interior and exterior space – something in between. The glass artwork by Jyrki Markkanen featured on the large windows creates a union between architecture and art”, describes architect and principal designer of the project Tero Wéman.

The new extension of the Sydän-Laukaa school was opened for students in the autumn of 2020.

School design creates a framework for learning and development: “Education is Finland’s crown jewel, powering our success as a nation. Finland has consistently invested in education, and I am proud to be involved in implementing pedagogically functional and beautiful facilities for learning”, Wéman concludes.

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The site is highly significant for the built environment of Laukaa town centre. We made the bold choice to deviate from the architectural language of the old school and surrounding buildings, which enabled us to modernise the character of the town”, describes Wéman.

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Täkkäri Block, Helsinki Following an architectural competition arranged in honour of Helsinki World Design Capital 2012, the proposal by Arkkitehtitoimisto Jukka Turtiainen Oy was selected as the winner. After a detailed local planning phase, the Täkkäri city block in the new Kalasatama district was developed according to the competition proposal.

The project represents a type of precise brick architecture. In the sheltered block courtyard, light-reflecting Alucobond cladding was used to offset the brick. This solution was to make the yard space appear visually more spacious and to bring light into the tapering area. The reflective, metal-like surface reacts dynamically to varied lighting conditions and serves as a bright material counterpart for the earthy, darker brick surface.

The high quality of housing design in the Täkkäri block is a result of well-studied dimensioning and functional solutions. “In the design phase, we even examined some quite bold alternatives in how the units could be combined vertically and horizontally. In the end, we ended up designing interesting two-storey penthouse apartments for the upper levels and made use of the massing under the sloping roof”, says principal designer of the project Ulla Saarinen.

The project was designed and constructed between 2012–2018 by Arkkitehtitoimisto Jukka Turtiainen Oy, whose architectural business operations and personnel were incorporated in 2019 as part of Arkkitehtipalvelu Oy.

Large-scale graphics, depicting life at the former Sörnäinen docks, have been printed onto glazed areas of the building’s facade.

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When the parties have faith in each other’s knowhow, the end result is a magnificent building.

Reimari, Jyväskylä Reimari, the first modern hybrid building in Jyväskylä, fills the last unbuilt corner of Kirkkopuisto Park in the centre of the city. The building was carefully designed as a part of a historically valuable milieu, with special attention paid to the neighbouring Defence Corps Building designed by Alvar Aalto and built in 1929. The new building was designed to be a dignified and elegant, yet humble addition to the cityscape.

The controlled fenestration in Reimari’s facade hides a multitude of uses inside. The tall windows beautifully let in natural light, while opening long views out over the park and Lake Jyväsjärvi. The exterior architectural treatment is complemented by the external lighting that can be programmed according to the illumination needs.

The building houses residential facilities, office and commercial premises, as well as underground parking and a maintenance yard servicing the city block. “Reimari fuses numerous parallel functions, which meant that we had to do quite a bit of reconciliating. The central location and the tight plot also influenced the design solution”, says principal designer Jan Niukkanen.

The challenging project went on for over five years and required in-depth collaboration, mutual agreements and jointly defined objectives. The parties had faith in each other’s professional knowhow, which gave rise to a building truly worthy of the site.

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The principal designers of the projects: Staffan Lodenius Jyrki Iso-Aho Eric Adlercreutz Anders Adlercreutz

Arkkitehtitoimisto A-Konsultit Our company was founded in Ekenäs in 1962, under the name of E. Adlercreutz & N-H. Aschan, arkkitehdit SAFA. The historical and communal town of Ekenäs, close to nature, as well as the infill development of the town, created a framework for our design work. In addition, the local detailed planning, local master planning, regional planning, as well as the fostering of the cultural landscape, were part of our job.

This created a foundation for holistic thinking, as new assignments came in. Thanks to the projects that received acknowledgements, the company’s activities expanded and moved to Helsinki.

Our key values – the holistic, placed-based, communal and humane approaches, as well as the ecological, cultural, social and economic responsibility – are reflected in all of our design projects.

Infill development is usually also integrated with the renovation of the existing building stock. Already during the early years of our activities, refurbishment was our field of expertise.

We have been honoured to plan the refurbishment and restoration of many important buildings designed by Alvar Aalto, such as Finlandia Hall, the main building of the University of Jyväskylä, the Museum of Central Finland, Alvar Aalto Museum, Stora Enso Headquarters, Lappia Hall and Studio Aalto. The principal designer of most of the projects has been Jyrki Iso-Aho. The refurbishment of the main building of the University of Jyväskylä was nominated for the Finlandia Prize for Architecture in 2019. The building – which was completed in 1956 – has been protected as part of the area of Seminaarinmäki, to which the above-mentioned museums are connected.

In the refurbishment, the architectural position of the library lobby and library hall was emphasised by restoring connections and opening new ones to the adjacent facilities. The spatial structure was restored by demolishing interior walls that were built later than the original building.

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Photo: Kuvatoimisto Kuvio Oy, Martin Sommerschield

Restoration of Buildings Designed by Alvar Aalto

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The fabric of public, semipublic, shared and private outdoor spaces has its model in Nordic wooden towns.

Lehtovuori Residential Area, Helsinki The dense and low residential area of Lehtovuori is located in north-western Helsinki. An implementation competition that was held on the basis of a local detailed plan draft was won by VVO Rakennuttajat in 2002. They executed – in accordance with our designs – a new type of urban low-rise residential area.

In three blocks, there are a total of 88 reasonably priced dwellings that represent five different, innovatively designed, building types. The dwellings have two or three floors, and their size varies from 89 m2 to 140 m2.

The block efficiency corresponds to the efficiency of a conventional block of residential multi-storey buildings, even though parking takes place on the ground level, in connection with the dwellings, and there are a great deal of semi-public areas and routes in the blocks. The facade material is wood.

There is a building that is shared by all residents at the hub of the area. The fabric of public, semi-public, shared and private outdoor spaces has its model in Nordic wooden towns.

The Lehtovuori area summarises our central principles of urban planning and housing design. Architecture is timeless but, it is, however, committed to its time. It grows from its place, but it also creates new places.

The principal designers were Eric Adlercreutz and Jyrki Iso-Aho.

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The objective is to link the renewing urban structure – more closely than before – to the efficient public transport and form a pedestrianoriented core in Espoon keskus.

Renewal of Espoon keskus Located along the King’s Road (Finnish: Kuninkaantie), Espoo Cathedral – dating to the 15th century – is one of the oldest buildings in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The strong urbanisation in the area started, on the basis of ambitious city visions, in the 1960s. However, it has been challenging for Espoon keskus to find its position as a social and functional heart of the city.

Later on, the urban structure of Espoo has been developed making it a network, i.e. a structure that leans on five centres.

The objective is to make the renewing Espoon keskus an attractive hub that serves northern and central Espoo. The goal is also to make Espoon keskus an area of versatile urban living, where the local cultural history also receives the position it deserves.

The area prepares itself for significant population growth. The objective is to link the renewing urban structure – more closely than before – to the efficient public transport and form a pedestrian-oriented core in Espoon keskus.

The renewal has started on the northern side of the railway station.

The focus of the blocks studied in an architectural competition is formed by the building Espoolaisten talo accommodating the City of Espoo’s administration and civic activities. A versatile commercial core is located on the southern side of the track. The commercial core links, more closely than before, to the surrounding residential areas.

Throughout the decades, land-use planning has been an intrinsic part of our activities. Staffan Lodenius and Panu Söderström were in charge of the work carried out from 2018 to 2020, and Jyrki Iso-Aho, as well, for the part of the epicentre blocks.

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Sansinpelto Daycare Centre, Kauniainen Public buildings serve a democratic society and its members. This must also be visible as features that support architectural communality – the scale and atmosphere vary from an assembly hall of a university to a daycare centre in the neighbourhood block.

The unit of six groups of childen of Sansinpelto daycare centre is located in the centre of Kauniainen. The low, fairly long building mass divides the plot into two parts, leaving a safe playground in the western part of the plot. The daycare centre is very low towards the neighbouring plot – the gable roof rises gently towards the south, making the southern end of the building two storeys high.

The red-brick spine of the building links the building to the surrounding building stock. The yard is lined with wooden surfaces. The skylights let light into the central parts of the building frame, providing the building with a recognisable, playful form.

The heart of the building is formed by a multipurpose space that runs through the building. The multipurpose space can be divided into several parts. Anders Adlercreutz acted as principal designer.

Photos: Kuvatoimisto Kuvio Oy

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The principal designers of the projects: Mikko Suvisto Pekka Leskelä

Arkkitehtitoimisto HKP

Photos: Pekka Leskelä

Our firm has a long history, going all the way back to 1968. We have been operating under our current name, Arkkitehtitoimisto HKP, since 2002. We currently have 14 architects working at our office.

HKP has focussed particularly on designing various unique new buildings. Our projects in renovating old buildings and in urban design have also increased significantly in recent years. Out of our long history of projects, the best-known is undoubtedly the Finnish National Opera. The most important project, however, is always the one we are currently working on.

We are mindful of sustainable development in our design work. It is not just about adding a thicker layer of insulation or technological wizardry. The aspects that are truly important in the urban structure are minimising emissions, as well as durability and repairability.

It is about the interaction between nature, natural resources and construction.

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The shop fronts and the facades facing the interior square are reminiscent of the streetscape and square milieus of a small town.

Extension of Iso Omena Shopping Centre, Helsinki The project was launched in 2009, when the owner of the Iso Omena shopping centre commissioned HKP to design an amendment to the local detailed plan. This later led to the building design process.

The public services linked to the project – the connection to the metro line, the bus terminal, the city district library and the health care centre – made the architect’s work more diverse than normal.

The principal designer in the project was Mikko Suvisto.

The architecture of the interior milieu in Iso Omena is arranged as a straight and long arcade. Continuing it as is would have resulted in a too expansive and too monotonous shopping street. The winding, multiform corridors of the extension are the polar opposite of the old part of Iso Omena.

The shop fronts and the facades around the interior square are reminiscent of the streetscape and square milieus of a small town.

This solution enables a functionally and commercially important circulation of footfall around the shopping centre.

A design competition was arranged for young artists concerning the art acquisitions for the project. Two of the highest-rated works have been implemented in connection with the main entrances.

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Photos: Mika Huisman, Jukka Ollikainen ja Pekka Leslekä

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West Metro Stations, Helsinki

The goal was for the passengers on the train to be able to tell, even by a cursory glance, which station they are at.

Designing the stations for the West Metro line took ten years and employed 12 persons. The principal designer was architect Pekka Leskelä.

We sought inspiration for the design process via the Internet, by familiarising ourselves with different underground stations and facilities. We then designed three metro stations the likes of which did not exist yet anywhere in the world.

Underground public premises have to be designed with functionality and safety at the forefront. The stations were designed to be functionally consistent, and the same practical solutions were applied to each one.

However, we wanted to give each station its own character and identity. The three stations had their own teams working on them, producing slightly different solutions. The goal was for the passengers on the train to be able to tell, even by a cursory glance, which station they are at.

Colours and lighting have a huge impact on the pleasantness of underground facilities. The walls of the platform hall at Niittykumpu Station were designed to constitute a large work of art in cooperation with artist Mari Rantanen. Works of art have also been designed for the Matinkylä and Urheilupuisto Stations.

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The principal designers of the projects: Aaro Virkkunen Harri Kokkonen Marko Salo

Avarc Architects

Photos: Mikko Ala-Peijari

Avarc Architects was established in 1991 by architect Aaro Virkkunen. Avarc produces high-quality architecture, as well as IT-supported and efficient design work, in a team of some 12 architects.

We specialise in new construction, as well as the development, conservation and repurposing of old environments. The premise of our operations is in lasting quality, timeless architecture and a diverse knowhow in varied areas of design.

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Although the architecture is essentially timeless, it also incorporates contemporary influences as subtle parts of the whole.

Kuusiniementie 9, Helsinki The design objective was to create a three-home residential complex that meets the highest international standards on a beautiful seaside property. Similar residential projects are rarely built in Helsinki. The designers of the Kuusiniementie project were architects Aaro Virkkunen and Harri Kokkonen, with the Avarc Architects design team.

In this project, the architects were able to base the design work on more bespoke solutions than usual. The basic premise was modern Finnish architecture implemented with the aid of new design solutions and technical possibilities. The architecture in the project is timeless, while also incorporating contemporary influences as subtle parts of the end result.

The buildings at Kuusiniementie were designed to be energy-efficient and sustainable and to last for a long time. The starting point was a lifespan of more than one hundred years.

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Our work manifests as high-quality refurbishment that combines the preservation of the old and the creation of new architecture.

Unioninkatu 8, Helsinki The goal was to convert the 1960s office building into housing. The basic brief was to preserve and repair the shape, facade and the foyer and main staircase of the building, while transforming the building’s inner courtyard and elevations.

Architects Aaro Virkkunen and Marko Salo, with the Avarc Architects design team, served as designers in the project.

The building at Unioninkatu 8 represents an idea according to which building preservation also applies to the protection, preservation and repurposing of newer structures built in, for example, the 1960s–2000s. Our work in the project manifests as a high-quality refurbishment that combines the preservation of the old and the creation of new architecture as parts of the same end result.

Most of our built environment consists of old elements. New buildings are almost invariably added to complete the existing environment. It is essential to implement the designed architectural, ecological and functional solutions in such a way that the resulting whole functions in a sustainable and beautiful fashion.

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The principal designers of the projects: Niilo Ikonen Pauli Siponen

Photos: Ville Vappula

Avarrus Architects Our office launched its operations in 2008, when we won a student competition and had the opportunity to participate in an international invited competition. The original name of our group, Avaus, later morphed into Avarrus.

Our practice includes twelve architects and two interior architects.

We specialise in designing sustainable living environments in all shapes and sizes. We design residential areas, hotels, renovation projects, new apartment buildings, low-rise dwellings and individual home interiors – that is to say everything from an entire city district to a single door handle.

Sustainability is an important value for us. We seek to use carbon-neutral materials and make energy-saving and producing solutions. Instead of tearing down old buildings, they should be put to new uses.

A large part of our work is in the area of renovation projects. We convert buildings that have become obsolete in their old purpose to new uses, adding years to their lifespan.

Buildings should last for centuries, and during that time they should be flexible and modifiable to varied uses, which is why we pay attention to not only ecological sustainability but also to the quality of the spatial solutions. In the ongoing Sustainable Apartment Building project (“Kestävä Kerrostalo” in Finnish), we are developing the utilisation of a solid brick structure and natural ventilation in an apartment building to make the building last for at least 200 years. As members of the Finnish Green Building Council, we are also involved in developing sustainable and carbon-neutral practices for the construction industry.

We believe that our best and most significant work is yet to come!

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The project represents our hallmarks of design carried out on the conditions of the site and its environment, as well as a modern take on the use of natural materials.

Base Street Trio, Helsinki The hillside plot is located on a north-facing slope, with the street front of the linked houses facing south. We resolved the differences in elevation and found ways to bring as much natural light as possible into the living spaces. The dimensions of the plot limited the width of the building.

The project represents our hallmarks of design carried out on the conditions of the site and its environment, as well as a modern take on the use of natural materials. The functionality of the three homes was fine-tuned throughout the design process, and, for example, various vistas and the travelling of light inside the homes were given careful thought. The linked houses standing on a garden plot were built from CLT elements with no extra insulation. The external leaf is clad in unfinished larch board, and the inside of the elements were given a transparent finish. The large back windows provide a seamless transition between the interior space and the surrounding landscape, while the windows on the street front are smaller. The principal designer of the project was architect Niilo Ikonen.

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The new hotel concept was adjusted to fit the frame of the old building.

Particularly the ceiling height in a 1960s office building was challenging when it comes to current technological applications.

Noli Studios, Helsinki Located in the Kurvi area of the Sörnäinen district, the old office complex formerly known as the Kansa-talo building was given a new lease of life as the Noli Studios apartment hotel. The principal designer of the project was architect Pauli Siponen.

We looked at several alternatives for the location of the new hotel.

This building had been practically vacant for a long time and was shortlisted as a potential property. We took time to examine different layout options, which yielded several alternative solutions, until all the pieces finally clicked into place.

The new hotel concept was adjusted to fit the frame of the old building. Particularly the ceiling height in a 1960s office building was challenging when it comes to current technological applications.

There were plenty of puzzles to solve throughout the project, but we were able to tackle all of the challenges together with our own team and the other designers and builders.

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Avarrus Architects

The building was inspired by early 20thcentury apartment buildings, which are still in working order and lived in.

Kestävä Kerrostalo, Helsinki We set out to brainstorm how a new-construction apartment building could be built to meet the highest quality and sustainability standards alike. What we ended up with was the idea of applying well-tried technical solutions that have been in use for ages to new construction.

We were in charge of the project and assumed the roles of concept developer, brainstormer, developer and designer.

The principal designer in the project is architect Pauli Siponen.

The design was inspired by early 20th-century apartment buildings, which are still in working order and lived in. The architecture is also similarly timeless, entailing both stylistic echoes from a century ago and a fresh modern take.

The more recent elements of the staggered bond in the brickwork by the windows and the mesh railings on the balconies are combined with a hipped mansard roof. The white-brick facing freshens up the overall appearance, while the red-brick accents indoors and on the balconies add warmth.

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The principal designer of the projects: Matti Anttila

AW2 Architects

Photos: Tuomas Uusheimo Photography / portait: Kliinikum.ee

Established originally in Paris in 1994, AW2 launched operations in Finland in 2003. Our office employs 40 architects and 15 interior architects. Our core area of expertise is in designing hospitals and other public service buildings. Our familiarity with hospital projects in Finland and abroad gives us in-depth knowledge of the current trends in hospital construction and provides tools and ideas for new, innovative design solutions. The developments in medicine are outrunning hospital construction. Patient care and the related spatial needs are constantly changing. That is why the technological systems and frame structure of the building need to be modifiable and allow for the facilities to be converted to new uses.

The design work also has to apply to minimising environmental and life cycle costs. In cooperation with specialist designers, we are able to support the meeting of the ecological demands placed on today’s technical building services. Inspiration and creativity in design spring from a thriving workplace community, whose members work in close interaction with each other. Good architecture is created in an atmosphere of optimism and faith in the future.

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Bridge Hospital, Helsinki Bridge Hospital is a world-class traumatology and oncology hospital that will be completed in 2023. The project has been designed in close collaboration between four architecture companies, working together as if they were all part of one and the same practice.

The partner companies in the Team Integrated Silta consortium sought collaboration based on not only friendship, but also shared stylistic preferences, which has manifested as an ease of finding a common style and translated into a cohesive architectural character in the building. The principal designer in the project is architect Matti Anttila from AW2.

The architecture of the Bridge Hospital is closely linked with its context. The building confidently assumes its place in the cityscape, while still respecting the status and style of the old Meilahti Tower Hospital.

The tricky wedge-like, meandering shape of the plot, as well as the existing old hospital buildings that need to remain functionally connected to the new hospital, have added to the challenges faced during the architectural design. Another complication has been the precondition that the existing hospital needs to remain in operation without interruptions.

Connecting two functions, oncology and traumatology, via a bridge has posed not only a functional but also a structural challenge.

The Bridge Hospital has been perhaps our most challenging design project so far. Even in the cross-pressure of all the technical restrictions, the human being, the point of view of the most vulnerable user of the hospital, remains at the core of the design work and has steered the entire project.

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The partner companies in the Team Integrated Silta consortium sought collaboration based on shared stylistic preferences, which has manifested as an ease of finding a common style and translated into a cohesive architectural character in the building.

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Ratamo Centre, Kouvola

The use of genuine natural materials, such as brick and ceramic tile, is a theme that is often carried through our implemented projects, and this is also the case with Ratamo Centre.

Ratamo Centre is a new hospital under construction near central Kouvola and an important part of the city’s social and health care services. The facilities have been designed from the perspective of patient care processes and the users of the hospital. The interior spaces can be modified flexibly, and they can also be expanded. The principal designer in the project is architect Kyösti Meinilä.

As with several of our projects, Ratamo Centre is characterised by cantilevered building elements that are used to pursue a dynamic appearance and the illusion of lightness in otherwise deep-framed hospital buildings. Some of the cantilevers in Ratamo Centre also serve as stations for building services technology.

The use of genuine natural materials, such as brick and ceramic tile, is a theme that is often carried through our implemented projects, and this is also the case with Ratamo Centre.

Traditional interior architectural features – such as the material and colour choices, fixtures and furnishings, lighting, graphic patterns on acoustic surfaces, sandblast textures on glass surfaces and modern wayfinding graphics – form an aesthetically cohesive interior milieu at Ratamo Centre. Several places have also been reserved to be completed with works of art at a later date, such as the voids in connection with the illuminated ceiling of the second-floor waiting area.

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B & M Architects B & M Architects has operated in both Finland and abroad since 1992.

We have an innovative and unprejudiced attitude towards our assignments. The international activities and interdisciplinary cooperation provide a wide perspective towards our design work.

The spectrum of our assignments ranges from city districts to commercial, office and residential buildings, as well as from traffic environments to public outdoor spaces.

We apply the principles of sustainable development and eco-efficient construction, and we take into account cultural and social values in all our assignments. Each theme is part of the bigger picture and promotes the creation of a functional living environment.

The principal designer of the projects: Jussi Murole

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Terraced Block, Helsinki A residential block that will be located at the end of Saukonpaadenpuisto Park in Jätkäsaari will complement the facade along Länsisatamankatu Street and the edge of the park. The overall appearance of the block and the materials used in it highlight its distinctive character.

In the block, the roofing has been utilised as terraces and green roofs. The courtyard lined by balconies is filled with light. Thanks to the open and flexible housing solutions, it will be possible to carry out changes during the entire lifespan of the building.

The designer of the project is B & M Architects.

The difference between a place and space is gravity.

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The building creates a new layer to the area surrounding the Olympic Stadium buildings.

Helsinki Garden The multifunctional arena Garden Helsinki will form a landmark and an activity cluster in the Olympic Stadium area.

The multifunctional arena is located in the park-like landscape as an independent volume, in the same way as the surrounding buildings. There will be commercial premises on the street level. The upper floors have been reserved for a hotel, offices and housing. The central square is lined with leisure activities, cafés and restaurants.

The designer of the project is B & M Architects in cooperation with PES-Architects.

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Bunkkeri, Helsinki The new use of the deposit storage and additional construction in the West Harbour will form a landmark for the district of Jätkäsaari. The old building and its massive structures are a starting point for a new kind of a hybrid building. The new part of the building, as well as the living spaces and the balcony facade around them, are executed, in a light-weight fashion, using glass, which is an element opposite to the old massive structures, emphasising the architectural contrast.

The designer of the project is B & M Architects.

The old building and its massive structures are a starting point for a new kind of a hybrid building.

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B & M Architects

The new building will house the traumatology hospital and an extension of the oncology centre, as well as a wedge-like bridge structure that connects them. The bridge structure will function as a socialising and meeting space for both hospitals.

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Bridge Hospital, Helsinki The Bridge Hospital will be located in the Meilahti hospital area, complementing the historical area and its building stock.

The new building will house the traumatology hospital and an extension of the oncology centre, as well as a connecting bridge structure. The new hospital will have outpatient clinics, an emergency department, a surgery unit, intensive care units and imaging services, as well as inpatient wards.

The designer of the project is B & M Architects, in cooperation with AW2 Architects, Brunet Saunier Architecture SA and Harris-Kjisik Architects.

The concrete facades boast a varying, threedimensional surface structure, and there is a green roof. They make the building distinctive and suitable for its place.

Kruunuvuorenranta Waste Collection Station, Helsinki The station will collect the household waste produced in the future district of Kruunuvuorenranta. The waste will be collected from the collection points of the properties to be packed and further processed.

The construction site is located at the foot of a rock that is partly in its natural state and partly quarried.

The concrete facades boast a varying surface structure, and there is a green roof. They make the building distinctive and suitable for its place. The designer of the project is B & M Architects.

Photo: Timo Kiukkola

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Photos: Kuvatoimisto Kuvio Oy

B & M Architects

The simplified appearance of the new shopping centre building and the materials used continue the industrial tradition that has thrived on the banks of Tammerkoski Rapids.

Ratina Shopping Centre, Tampere Ratina Shopping Centre consists of a functionalist block, its extension and a new construction. The simplified appearance of the new shopping centre building and the materials used continue the industrial tradition that has thrived on the banks of Tammerkoski Rapids.

Towards Ratina Square, the scale of the shopping centre is smaller and its appearance is lighter.

The designer of the project is B & M Architects in cooperation with Tuomo Siitonen Architects.

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The principal designers of the projects: Kimmo Saharinen Santeri Lipasti Timo Urala

Bluet Bluet is a Finnish company specialising in building on water, serving clients in Finland and abroad. We offer services for various phases of a project from the earliest visions to technical design and the finalised plans.

We aim to demonstrate that floating construction opens up new avenues for business and housing alike in cities where the waterfront remains largely unutilised. Floating solutions have the potential to generate more area for development. Our main goal is to provide designs and end results that meet the client’s wishes as regards the technical solutions of building on water, in addition to considering the demands of the water area.

Floating pools and infrastructure, as well as technical engineering and design supervision, are at the core of Bluet’s expertise. Our primary focus is on commercial projects and larger resort complexes, but we also design residential projects. When it comes to collaboration with architects, one of our most special projects has been the Vök Baths geothermal spa in Iceland. In addition to Finland, our primary market is in the Nordic Countries and Europe in general, but we are also currently working on several spectacular projects globally, from the US to Australia.

In each project, we pursue an end result that meets the expectations of all parties involved. Our strengths include the ability to manage a large whole and oversee the implementation of floating special structures. Our problem-solving approach is innovative and cost-effective.

We always strive to find ways to make the architects’ and clients’ idea and vision become reality, turning them into technologically feasible solutions. When Bluet is involved in the design team from an early phase of the process, we work together with the architects and the rest of the team to achieve an interactive collaboration.

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The floating home has enough space for a family of four, comprising, for example, living spaces at sea level and a roof-top sauna and lounge area.

Villa W, Marinstaden, Nacka, Sweden The floating home in the Marinstaden area of Nacka, Sweden, is a private, bespoke residence that was completed in 2015. The three-storey 214-square-metre home has enough space for a family of four, comprising, for example, living spaces at sea level and a roof-top sauna and lounge area. The principal designer in the project was architect Timo Urala.

Our architect designed the home around the client’s ideas and needs. Bluet was in charge of the conceptual, architectural and technical design in the project, in addition to providing project management services and delivering the floating foundation.

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Floating Jetty and Swimming Pavilion, Tuusula

Bluet delivered the floating jetty and pavilion in only 10 weeks according to a turnkey contract.

Photos: Marko Huttunen

As part of the efforts to increase the recreational value of Lake Tuusulanjärvi, the Municipality of Tuusula wanted to create a functional landmark in Fjällbo Park. The local authorities wished to bring more life to the park and make it more inviting and practical.

In 2019, Huttunen-Lipasti Architects had won the design competition for the area with their entry entitled “Pliplap”. In the original designs, the jetty was to be built on piles, but a feasibility study revealed that a floating jetty would be a better solution.

Tenders were also invited for the technical engineering and construction of the project, and as the winner of the public tendering, Bluet delivered the jetty and pavilion in only 10 weeks according to a turnkey contract. The project was completed in August 2019.

The project was small, yet demanding. The architectural design posed several challenges for floating technology, but Bluet was able to resolve them all. The original concept and the final floating solution are almost identical. The successful collaboration with the architects laid the foundations for further joint ventures in the future.

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The principal designers of the projects: Sergej von Bagh Petri Tavilampi Jari Lantiainen Ida Väänänen

BST-Arkkitehdit BST-Arkkitehdit Oy is a Tampere-based architectural design company employing some 40 designers, fifteen of whom work as principal designers in our varied projects.

Our projects comprise a wide range of areas in construction from land-use planning to interior design. The design assignments also include area planning, housing design, commercial premises, health care facilities, public offices, daycare centres, schools and production buildings. Our projects span across Finland, with emphasis on the Tampere Region, however.

The newly completed Lempäälä-talo building at the new municipal centre of Lempäälä houses a library, as well as office and commercial premises, parking and facilities for recreational activities. The complex serves a multitude of user groups, and the design process that began with land-use planning continued in a user-oriented fashion all the way to implementation. Architect Jari Lantiainen was in charge of the architectural design in the project.

The buildings in the complex outline the Telkäntaival route running through the block, enabling universal access via the new bridge across the railway that passes through central Lempäälä.

The main lobby with services for the residents of Lempäälä opens out towards the Erik Ednerin puisto Park located in front of the building. Outdoor exercise equipment and public works of art add to the park’s character and functions.

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Photo: Kuvauspalvelu Vesa Voitto Sakari

Lempäälä-talo – Modern Municipal Centre of Lempäälä

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Photos: Okko Sorma

Luminary, Tampere Luminary is a 21-storey commercial and residential complex in the heart of Tampere. The designs were based on the winning proposal in a design competition. Architect Petri Tavilampi was in charge of architectural design in the project.

Luminary is a landmark of the Tammela district, bringing cohesion to the northern side of Tampere’s main street. The complex consists of a 7-storey slab block and a 21-storey tower block. Both parts offer street-level commercial premises.

An urban city space was designed to rest nestled at the corner of the two main masses of the complex. This pocket is a natural place for restaurant outdoor serving areas and the main entrance to the building.

Inside the main entrance, stairs lead to the main foyer that serves as a common lounge area for residents. It also provides access to all three staircases and some of the commercial facilities.

The unobstructed views from high up over the city were put to good use in designing the building, but we also sought new solutions for the architecture of living. The unit sizes range from studio flats to the 300-square-metre penthouse. As a point of difference from typical small flats, the tower block also includes corner studios with windows facing two directions.

The facing of the prefabricated facade elements mainly features white concrete polished to a matt finish. The vertical dimension was emphasised in the facades, as was the interplay of black and white, light and shadow. The thick facade elements also give character to the flats by generating deep window seats that are ideal for relaxed lounging, for example.

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The unobstructed views from high up over the city were put to good use in designing the building, but we also sought new solutions for the architecture of living.

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As.Oy Rimini, Tampere The Halkoniemi area by Lake Näsijärvi in Lentävänniemi, Tampere, offers a unique setting for high-quality housing.

Two blocks of flats have been positioned on the plot, with staggered balcony zones affording views over the lake.

Architect Ida Väänänen was in charge of the architectural design of the project.

The key objective in the residential architecture of the Rimini project was to break the conventional boundaries of multistorey living. By introducing quality factors typically associated with low-rise housing, such as more generous living spaces, modern technological solutions, flat-specific storage rooms at flat level, as well as large windows, spacious balconies and high-quality interior design solutions, we have achieved a new concept for multistorey living.

The versatile common areas, such as a gym and bicycle storages with a mud cleaning station, further add to the residents’ personal living space.

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By combining quality factors typically associated with lowrise housing, we have achieved a new concept for multistorey living.

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The principal designers of the projects: Tom Cederqvist Vesa Jäntti Arndt Heinzmann Leena Brooke

Cederqvist & Jäntti Architects Cederqvist & Jäntti Architects has operated in Helsinki since 2005.

The founding partners are Tom Cederqvist and Vesa Jäntti. We have 45 designers working at our office.

We design housing, offices, commercial buildings, land use and combinations of all of these. Currently, our focus is on hybrid buildings. Right from the beginning, we have carried out design work by modelling, in the use of which we are pioneers in Finland.

The renovation of and alteration work for the Siilitie metro station – the station was completed in the early 1980s – include a new platform roof, an entrance building, a kiosk building, a waiting area, an extension of the service space, alterations in the old service space and new exit stairs. What has remained from the original building is some service space, a lift shaft and platform structures.

The architecture of the design is based on a tension between the sturdy stone surfaces and the light-weight glass surfaces. The purpose has been to create a building which highlights the attractive and dynamic nature of public transport and which is spatially interesting. The round skylights in the platform roof create a distinctive identity for the metro station and bring natural light into the platform area. Special attention has been paid to the guidance of visually impaired passengers.

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Photo: Mika Huisman

Siilitie Metro Station, Helsinki

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Pelagia Block, Helsinki The buildings in the Pelagia block form an unbroken line of roofs, together with the neighbouring blocks. The rhythm is set by a variation in the balcony facade. A tower at the southwestern corner is a strong motif in terms of the cityscape. The block opens up towards Mustikkamaa and the seashore via the stairs lined with greenery. The space, the height of which extends to several floors, provides a pleasant socialising area for the residents.

There is a sea view from the living space of all flats. As regards the spatial arrangement, the openness of the living space and the central role of the kitchen have been highlighted. The saunas in the flats can be converted into walk-in wardrobes. The glazed balconies are spacious, and some of them can also become conservatories.

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Lauttis Shopping Centre and Flats, Helsinki Lauttis – which consists of a shopping centre and flats – is a hybrid block that includes an entrance to the Lauttasaari metro station, a shopping centre and three residential buildings on top of the shopping centre, as well as an underground parking facility that has two storeys.

Before the construction of Lauttis, the Lauttasaari shopping centre – which was completed in 1970 – was demolished on the site.

The massing and architecture of the block continue the central block plan drawn up by professor Olli Kivinen. Lauttis is located at the end of the central block plan.

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Imposing spaces have been designed for the Ilmala station, such as a spacious atrium – extending to the height of four floors – which has a softly curving amphitheatre.

Ilmala Station, HSY Headquarters and Hartela, Helsinki Our starting point was to come up with the most riveting and evocative office building in Helsinki. We also pondered on the needs of the users and the functionality of the building. The common thread through the design work has been modifiability. The spaces can be converted into various uses: the volume of open space can either be increased or reduced, and it is possible to create multi-space environments. Thanks to the extensive gross floor areas in the building, even a large organisation can be located to one level.

Imposing spaces have been designed for the Ilmala station, such as a spacious atrium – extending to the height of four floors – which has a softly curving amphitheatre. From the atrium, splendid views open up towards Eteläinen Postipuisto Park.

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Lahden Portti and Luhta Headquarters, Lahti The goal of our design – which won the architecture competition – was to create a dominant feature, at a junction on the southern side of Lahti, that would form a visible landmark by the southern access road to Lahti.

In addition to the Luhta headquarters, the plan for the Lahden Portti area also contains a shop and a more extensive commercial entity.

The form and visual appearance of the headquarters building are a modern addition to the developing and increasingly urban area.

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IsoKristiina Shopping Centre, Lappeenranta IsoKristiina is a shopping centre and a place for meeting people in the epicentre of Lappeenranta. In addition to shops and services, Lappeenranta City Theatre was located to the new part of the shopping centre. The extension of IsoKristiina complements the urban structure of the epicentre of Lappeenranta, making it a united whole.

The massing of the building is based on the clear block structures of the epicentre, as well as on the partial roofing of streets between the blocks. In the facades of the new part, one can see – as a metamorphosis – a huge maple tree that used to grow on the site.

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The principal designers of the projects: Seppo Markku Anneli Hellsten

H&M Arkkitehdit The practice originated in 1994, when architects Seppo Markku and Anneli Hellsten designed their first joint school project. At present, the office employs 10–15 designers.

Designing spaces that focus on activities for children and young people, schools for all educational levels as well as sports and youth centres, constitutes 85–90 percent of our turnover.

We specialise in school design and are able to identify the spatial solutions that support the pedagogical objectives. We are currently working on our 46th educational institution.

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Upon completion, the converted LAB building was the best university building in its size category worldwide, when examined from the point of view of geothermal heating, solar energy, energy consumption, the materials used and construction-time recycling practices.

LAB University of Applied Sciences, Lahti In this project, we had more than 23,000 m2 of an old furniture factory to work with to design a whole where four departments of the LAB University of Applied Sciences that were scattered around the city of Lahti could be brought together under one roof. The principal designer in the project was architect Seppo Markku.

An immense source of inspiration was the thought of four LAB schools that represent different disciplines coming together to use shared spaces, learning the product development process and professional networking. The insightful objectives set by the end user concerning a unified campus, as well as the end user’s thorough and continued participation in the process, solidified our design solutions.

The building includes several hundred laboratory, workshop, working, lecture, theoretical, administrative, leisure, as well as research and development spaces with different functions, content and materials requirements. The brief was to offer spaces suited to these purposes for studying design, social services, business and technology.

Representing one of the most important disciplines at LAB, the Institute of Design and Fine Arts known for its top-notch expertise in design, was also relocated to the facilities we designed. With them, an extensive retrospective art collection was also transferred to the new premises.

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In addition, works by newly graduated young artists were acquired from the last student exhibition held at the former Lahti Art Institute. Supporting young artists has been close to our hearts in all of our projects.

Including sustainable development in the architect’s plans alone would be too little too late and would amount to nothing but a touch of greenwashing in the overall building projects. Instead, the concept needs to be incorporated as the premise and primary objective of each and every design field, contractor, subcontractor, property owner and end user, with monitoring in place to oversee the implementation through to its finish.

In this project, the goal was achieved by the entire group of operators involved in the project, even exceeding the expectations. Upon completion, the converted LAB building was the best university building in its size category worldwide, when examined from the point of view of geothermal heating, solar energy, energy consumption, the materials used and construction-time recycling practices.

Lahti, which was selected as the European Green Capital 2021, was a natural location for such a project based on green values.

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An immense source of inspiration was the thought of four LAB schools that represent different disciplines coming together to use shared spaces, learning the product development process and professional networking.

H&M Arkkitehdit

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The principal designer of the projects: Pekka Helin

Helin & Co Architects

Metsä Pavilion, Tokyo The timber-construction Metsä Pavilion was erected at a central location in Tokyo, on the property of the Finnish Embassy. Originally meant to serve as an Olympic pavilion, the building was adopted in 2020 for diverse use as a platform for business and culture events.

The strong traditions of timber construction in both Japan and Finland were taken into account in the design. The pavilion is approachable and authentic, while also meeting high quality standards.

The building is ecological, recyclable and easily movable. The structures can fit into 17 shipping containers. Built from prefabricated timber elements, the structure is material-efficient, made to measure, light-weight and easy to assemble on site.

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The strong traditions of timber construction in both Japan and Finland were taken into account in the design.

Photo: Business Finland PA Asikainen / portrait: Irmeli Jung

Helin & Co Architects is an architecture firm with solid expertise ranging from the master planning of urban areas to designing corporate headquarters, public buildings, commercial centres, housing, as well as office and marketing spaces. Our area of expertise also covers demanding renovation projects, as well as the design of production facilities and transport buildings.

Architectural, technological and ecological factors are emphasised in our design work. We have acquired wide-ranging knowhow in sustainable development solutions and are constantly examining new solutions for the future. Conserving energy and materials, life-cycle-conscious choices and increasing the value of buildings by means of architectural design are among our design principles.

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Photo: Antti Laiho

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The centre’s tower composition is not only the tallest in Finland, but also a rare consistent tower block area on a global scale.

Kalasatama Centre, Helsinki Kalasatama Centre comprises the REDI shopping and public service centre, the eight tower blocks to be built on top of it, as well as the extension of the Kalasatama metro station.

The tower composition planned for the centre will not only be the tallest in Finland, but also represent a rare consistent tower block area on a global scale. The towers will be 24–37 stories tall and comprise 1,800 flats. In addition, the plan is to include offices and an apartment hotel. The Itäväylä thoroughfare and metro line have been covered with a green deck boasting a public park. The deck-top yards shared by the tower block properties will be built on the roof of the shopping centre. The property yards and public park will be connected via access bridges.

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Photo: Martin Sommerschield

UPM-Kymmene Headquarters, Helsinki The new UPM headquarters are located in central Helsinki, in the vicinity of the Töölönlahti national landscape and the Central Railway Station. The brief was to produce state-of-the-art architecture in terms of both functionality and aesthetics, yet within reasonable costs.

The main interior feature and an important factor in creating the identity of the building is the free-form atrium. The conference cluster on the entrance level winds around the atrium, and visitors are welcomed in the light-filled café housed in the tall space. The Bioforum, located in connection with the entrance, is a tall space meant for product and art exhibitions as well as various small-scale events.

The offices, designed for 450 employees, are all open spaces, even those used by the executives. Something new is introduced by the unconventional teamwork and brainstorming spaces. The teamwork spaces, telephone booths and meeting rooms on the office floors offer alternative workspaces for varied situations during the working day.

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The main interior feature and an important factor in creating the identity of the building is the free-form atrium.

Photos: Marc Goodwin

Helin & Co Architects

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The new and old offices are connected by a single-storey restaurant and multipurpose space whose design was based around the cutting-edge products of the Metsäliitto Cooperative, which owns the property.

The refurbishment of the office complex in Tapiola, Espoo, entailed the designing and implementation of a new office building, as well as the renovation of the tallest, eight-storey volume of the old complex.

The new and old office facilities are connected by a single-storey restaurant and multipurpose space whose design was based around the cutting-edge products of the Metsäliitto Cooperative, which owns the property.

Functionally, the brief was to create a space that could be used as flexibly as possible, with no unnecessary columns getting in the way.

The main supports are trestle structures consisting of pillars made from milled laminated wood and double beams made from glue-laminated timber. Rooflights were added to the spaces between the double beams, and the blank secondary sections comprise heat-insulated wooden stressed-skin panels.

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Photos: Marc Goodwin & Mandi Halonen

Metsätapiola, Espoo

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Photos: Mikael Linden

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The water level in the pools is flush with the floors, giving off the impression that the main pool extends through the large windows and out to the sea, all the way to the horizon.

Regatta Spa, Hanko Regatta Spa is located on a rocky seaside plot next to the Hanko marina. The building was designed to be an international, spa-like wellness centre, while also meeting the Hanko residents’ needs for recreation and swimming instruction as a public pool.

In addition to the dressing rooms, shower facilities and saunas, the building includes a lobby and café, yoga classroom and gym, as well as several treatment rooms. In addition to the main pool, the pool area is equipped with a shallower, warm therapy pool. The entrance level also includes two saunas that can be rented for private use and a lounge room. The water level in the pools is flush with the floors, giving off the impression that the main pool extends through the large windows and out to the sea, all the way to the horizon.

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The principal designers of the projects: Annika Jaakkola Hannu Jaakkola Juho Lonkila Kai Rajakaltio Lauri Pihlajaniemi Sami Ourila Tapani Kerttula Turo Halme

Jaakkola Architects Jaakkola Architects is a Helsinki-based architecture firm, home to more than 20 architects and designers. The company was established in 1985 under the name Arkkitehtitoimisto Hannu Jaakkola Oy. In addition to housing and school projects, our references include public buildings, renovation projects and local detailed planning across Finland. We have received awards in over 40 architectural competitions, including more than 30 first prizes.

Our design objective is to achieve solutions of a high architectural standard, which are also functional, cost-effective and environmentally conscious. In parallel with sustainable development, we strive to contribute to an intriguing urban space, rational land use planning and the functionality of buildings.

Kinnari School, Järvenpää

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The multiform and modifiable learning spaces foster interaction and a self-directed search for information and knowledge.

Photo: Titus Verhe / portraits: Sakari Majantie

The Kinnari comprehensive school of 900 students was designed by architects Hannu Jaakkola, Tapani Kerttula and Lauri Pihlajaniemi with interior architect Sami Ourila.

The multiform and modifiable learning spaces foster interaction and a self-directed search for information and knowledge. When necessary, the classrooms in the instruction cells can be opened with folding walls as part of a larger learning environment.

New types of home economics classrooms and a wing for arts and crafts instruction were also designed for the school. The physical proximity and access between the spaces enable the combining of digital design with the more traditional arts and crafts subjects.

The entrance level houses a gymnasium and a common area that mainly serves as the school canteen. Between these is a stage that can be opened up to both the gymnasium and the common area, which also houses a set of auditorium stairs connecting the floors.

The construction project was implemented based on the alliance method; in addition to the principal designer, the alliance included the City of Järvenpää, Mestaritoiminta Oy as the developer and NCC Suomi Oy as the main contractor. Based on the massing, technical solutions and heating solution, the building is rated in the energy category A.

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Photos: Titus Verhe

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In the spatial solutions, we paid careful attention to the dimensions, functionality and furnishability of the rooms, in addition to the clarity and flexibility of the solutions. This is why they are so well suited to the changing needs of the residents.

Jalopuut Tower Blocks, Espoo The group of four tower blocks was completed in the southern Tapiola district of Espoo in 2016. The project was designed by architects Hannu Jaakkola and Turo Halme.

The aim in the design work was to create a residential complex with a distinct identity that meets high standards and complements the area of southern Tapiola, contributing to the infill construction in the garden-city-like environment.

Key values in the design work were the expansive landscapes, a skilful integration of natural elements into the block structure, a careful handling of the ground level, as well as a high architectural standard of the new buildings.

In the spatial solutions, we paid careful attention to the dimensions, functionality and furnishability of the rooms, in addition to the clarity and flexibility of the solutions. This is why they are so well suited to the changing needs of the residents. The spacious living and dining spaces open out towards the large glazed-in balconies of the flats. The green and leafy block courtyards have created a pleasant outdoor living area with clearly defined functions.

The end result is modern and timeless architecture, where traditional facade materials and light colouring meet original, identity-defining roof and eaves profiles.

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Vaisala Product Development and Innovation Centre, Vantaa

The brief was to produce a design that follows the Vaisala product development process.

Photos: Kari Palsila

The product development and innovation centre designed for Vaisala Corporation brings together the company’s R&D and innovation facilities. The project was designed by architects Hannu Jaakkola, Kaj Rajakaltio and Juho Lonkila. The pattern on the facade was created by graphic designer Annika Jaakkola.

Among other facilities, the R&D building completed in Vantaanlaakso boasts an EMC testing laboratory shielded from radio frequency interference, a vibro-isolated vibration testing laboratory, a low-temperature laboratory and an environmental laboratory. In addition, the building houses modifiable office spaces and a staff restaurant seating 300 customers.

The brief was to produce a design that follows the Vaisala product development process. As you move through the premises, you are also proceeding in the product design process from the brainstorming stage to 3D printing of prototypes, further development and all the way to the finished products.

The main series of spaces include the office area and the laboratory facilities. Between these is a double-height common area that also serves as an event square. The project team spaces are constantly modified during the building’s life cycle with the aid of furnishing.

In addition to the client, Vaisala Corporation, the project also included the developer Haahtela-rakennuttaminen Oy, as well as Ramboll Finland Ltd, which was in charge of structural design, and Granlund Oy, which was in charge of HVAC design.

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Photos: Kuvatoimisto Kuvio Oy & Marc Goodwin

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects The roots of the Lahdelma & Mahlamäki partnership are in architectural competitions won through joining forces. Professors and longterm architectural partners Ilmari Lahdelma and Rainer Mahlamäki have been working together since the 1980s – first in the 8 Studio established together with their fellow students from university, then under a practice named Kaira-Lahdelma-Mahlamäki.

In its current configuration, Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects has been in operation since 1997. Today, the firm employs some 30 staff.

In our work, we strive for an in-depth understanding of place, history and the human being – to forego any preconceived notions and to approach each assignment with a fresh set of eyes.

We are, first and foremost, designers of public buildings. From the practical point of view, our projects span a wide range of different buildings from museums to schools and blocks of flats. Among our best-known works are the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw (2013), The Maritime Centre Vellamo (2008), the Kaustinen Folk Arts Centre (1997) and the Finnish Forest Museum Lusto (1994).

We also value our non-implemented entries in international competitions that we were invited to enter among some of the world’s most highly esteemed architecture firms.

The principal designers of the projects: Rainer Mahlamäki Ilmari Lahdelma

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The Metropolia campus project not only generated varied learning environments but also created a completely new urban space. The four buildings of the campus are linked via open squares, giving the complex an air of a city in miniature.

Urban Environment House and Metropolia UAS Myllypuro Campus, Helsinki Typically, our design commissions are the result of architectural competitions, but the Urban Environment House and the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences campus form an exception to the rule.

They were not implemented based on a competition, and the work was carried in collaboration with the users of the buildings from start to finish. The principal designers in the projects were Professor Ilmari Lahdelma (Urban Environment House) and Professor Rainer Mahlamäki (Metropolia).

The architectural solution for both the Urban Environment House and the Metropolia campus is a marriage between the scale of the surrounding urban fabric and an extensive programme. The key question in both projects was how the large building will appear to its surroundings. The Urban Environment House and the Metropolia building are based on completely different building techniques and are worlds apart from each other in other respects as well, as both have been designed specifically for their own locations.

Our hand is seen precisely in how the buildings blend in as part of their environment. Materials also play an important role. They steer the design towards a specific direction and give the buildings their architectural substance.

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A source of inspiration for the Urban Environment House was the rough aesthetics of the old industrial milieu in Verkkosaari. A nod towards this feature is seen in, for example, the brick facade.

The brief for the Urban Environment House was to create a building that encourages people to participate in the City of Helsinki’s decision-making, while also offering an ultramodern workplace for 1,500 employees.

We were also inspired by the fact that the people working in the building would, in fact, be experts in the built environment.

For this reason, we introduced architectural motifs from the history of architecture, which is evident in the brick arches and arcades.

The new Metropolia campus was to provide large, multidisciplinary facilities for the university of applied sciences and to add life and vitality to the Myllypuro district.

In terms of the cityscape, the campus is located on a highly prominent site, serving as an entrance to the district. That is what inspired the clearly distinguished shape consisting of four masses.

The project not only generated varied learning environments but also created a completely new urban space. The four buildings of the campus are linked via open squares, giving the complex an air of a city in miniature.

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A source of inspiration for the Urban Environment House was the rough aesthetics of the old industrial milieu in Verkkosaari. A nod towards this feature is seen in, for example, the brick facade.

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The principal designers of the projects: Juha Kujanpää Niko Ollila Timo Koljonen

Our firm was conceived in 2006 out of a shared desire by five architects to create distinct and original architecture at a multidisciplinary architectural practice. Our offices in Oulu, Helsinki and Jyväskylä employ a total of 65 field professionals.

Our projects emphasise the element of functionality as it is interwoven as part of the architecture. Sustainable development and environmental matters are also essential in all design. Our firm has adopted its own environmental programme, which has been awarded the WWF Green Office certificate.

Our work covers all areas of architectural design from varied projects to new buildings and renovation plans and from urban planning to interior and environmental design. We take on each new design assignment with an open and innovative attitude. A high quality of work is the goal in every commission.

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Photo: Kuvatoimisto Kuvio Oy

LINJA ARCHITECTS

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Photos: Kuvauspalvelu Vesa Voitto Sakari

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The screenlike ceramic material of the street front facade, together with the timber cladding around the back courtyard, create a harmonious and distinctive look.

Live Vocational College, Espoo The new Live Vocational College maintained by Live Foundation opened its doors in Leppävaara, Espoo, in 2020. Built on a slope located close to the services offered in Leppävaara, the building was designed for 500 students and 150 employees. The principal designer in the project was architect Timo Koljonen, with architect Juha Kujanpää serving as building designer.

The project originated with Live Foundation’s need to receive functional and healthy facilities for the school. The brief included premises that would cater to versatile functions, allowing the school to house all of their operations under the same roof.

The shape of the building was informed by the site. The building cuts smoothly into the slope, incorporating the rocky face as a part of the whole. The screenlike ceramic material of the street front facade, together with the timber cladding around the back courtyard, create a harmonious and distinctive look.

Universal access and the special needs of the users have been considered in all aspects of the design and planning. Accessibility is not only realised in the spatial solutions, but it is also considered in the lighting. The natural light filtered through the facade and the indirect artificial lighting mix together to create an excellently illuminated environment. The walls in the school are adorned by a montage of art by Rosa Liksom, compiled from Live Foundation’s collections, creating a balanced contrast between the works of art that are infused with colour and the otherwise harmonious interior spaces.

The building showcases our experience in designing special education schools, as well as working and learning environments.

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Monikko Multipurpose Building, Nurmijärvi

Special attention in the project was paid to the multifunctionality and modifiability of the building, as well as to sustainable development.

Photos: Kuvatoimisto Kuvio Oy

The Monikko multipurpose building managed by the Municipality of Nurmijärvi was designed to house recreational activities, particularly for children and young people.

The site is located in the middle of an open exercise park. Monikko was to become the clear focal point of the area. The principal designer in the project was architect Niko Ollila.

Special attention in the project was paid to the multifunctionality and modifiability of the building.

Monikko boasts an event hall, youth facilities and exercise facilities with related dressing rooms. The high-quality concert hall is equipped with modifiable acoustics, making it ideal for arranging both popular and classical music concerts, as well as theatrical performances and children’s events. The concert hall has received positive feedback from musicians, among other users.

An inviting and impressive entrance hall was designed for the building. The detailing is considered and the materials are of the highest quality. Visual arts have been considered in the design of the hallway adjoining the tall entrance hall, with plans to arrange temporary exhibitions in the space.

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The principal designers of the projects: Merja Pesonen Pekka Lukkaroinen Petri Pettersson Kristian Järvi Okko Saurama Olli Hongisto Kati Kaukonen Joona Koskelo Julia Leshkova Timo Leiviskä

Lukkaroinen Architects Lukkaroinen Architects is an Oulu-based architectural practice of creative people and innovative ideas. In our design work, the client is given priority, and we always seek to exceed the expectations placed on us. We are a responsible and reliable partner in large and small projects alike. We contribute to a beautiful, high-quality and sustainable living environment for current and future generations.

The landmark of the Town of Parkano, the school and culture campus Kaarna, is a school built for 750 comprehensive school and upper-secondary school students. It is also a versatile venue for culture, recreational activities and events. The principal designer in the project was Joona Koskelo.

The central lobby is the heart of the building, with access to the 300-seat Wrede hall with multi-purpose auditorium seating and a full-height stage. The lobby also serves as a school dining and learning area, as well as the green room for the Wrede hall. In daytime use, the large hall is divided with movable partitions into teaching spaces of varying sizes. The lower level also houses a gymnasium with a 200seat spectator stand and a full-size floorball rink.

The basic education facilities are located in cells with cubic massing. A learning square with a stage and message board wall dedicated to phenomenon-based learning is positioned at the centre of each cell. The learning areas are modifiable.

The Kaarna facades are a mix of light-coloured brick and batten cladding. Coloured rendering and the window framing on the woodclad walls lighten the overall appearance. Wood surfaces are also featured in the Wrede hall and lobby, where they are paired with the clear-coated concrete. In the learning spaces, the use of colour is bolder, and each learning area has its own distinctive colour.

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Photo: Aukusti Heinonen

Kaarna School and Culture Campus, Parkano

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Photos: Raimo Ahonen

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Lumiareena was built with a laminated log structure that will grey to the colour of a traditional barn.

Lumiareena Community Centre, Pudasjärvi Lumiareena is a log-construction multipurpose centre at the foot of the Iso-Syöte skiing slopes. The two-storey building boasts, among other facilities, an arena hall, a restaurant and functions related to the Iso-Syöte Booking Centre.

The Lumiareena main entrance leads from the slope side to the upstairs restaurant with glass walls affording views out over the slopes.

The lower level is home to the 400-square-metre arena and a gym.

The restaurant extends seamlessly into the neighbouring Safari building, which also has sauna and meeting facilities, as well as equipment rental activities. Safari, then, is linked via a tube to an apartment hotel.

Lumiareena was built with a laminated log structure that will grey to the colour of a traditional barn due to iron vitriol treatment. The shape of the building is that of a plain object rising up from the terrain. The principal designer of the building was Kristian Järvi.

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Dentopolis, Oulu Dentopolis is a dental health care, research and instruction cluster. It houses dental health care professionals as well as dentist and dental hygienist students from the City of Oulu, the University of Oulu and the Oulu University of Applied Sciences.

Dentopolis is located next to the main building of the Faculty of Medicine; the two buildings are connected via a pavilion-style restaurant space. The main facade is clad in rust-coloured, lacy Corten steel. The other elevations are faced in a light-coloured concrete.

The three-storey building houses dental treatment rooms, teaching facilities and offices. Care cells, i.e. staff bases, are positioned behind the treatment rooms. Through the cells, the staff can consult with each other and pick up instruments or equipment. The cells also enable a multi-room work approach, in which the dentists may be treating several patients at once.

The interior spaces are grouped around three tall lobbies filled with natural light. A sense of spaciousness and extended views have been created with the aid of glass walls and doors, as well as large windows. The fresh interior colour scheme fosters a pleasant atmosphere inside the building. The principal designer of Dentopolis was Pekka Lukkaroinen.

A sense of spaciousness and extended views have been created with the aid of glass walls and doors, as well as large windows.

Photos: Raimo Ahonen

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The principal designers of the projects: Heikki Lamusuo Jaana Partanen

Partanen & Lamusuo Our motto is to make the client’s dream come true. Our design work is always founded on empathy. We place ourselves in the position of the user and client, and we delve into the project, thinking about the needs and requirements of the client.

Most preferably, we like to use the operating method Moving Castle – i.e. the engaging workshop activities – with the help of which we get to know the dreams of our client. This way, we can be the required Piece of each success story. Our vision is to make the world more unified with each creative Piece that is worked by our team.

No matter whether the site is small or large. Everything is equally important. Each action, each line, colour, feel and form.

Photos: Kari Matti Antero Puustinen & Pekka Mäkinen

Kaari Hospital, Kuopio In the design of Kaari Hospital, Partanen & Lamusuo was responsible for the public hospital facilities – both indoors and outdoors – as well as for the facade artwork Evolution.

Our vision was to create a hospital of the new era, a sanatorium, where homely materials and warm tones are highlighted. Our work was guided by an idea that the facilities can promote health and help people to get better.

The organic form of the facilities was inspired by the shape of cells.

They repeat the same line of design as the main lobby of Kuopio University Hospital we designed. We have designed the lobby.

Our style can be seen in the use of natural light, golden details and pieces of furniture – Palad furniture – which are our design.

The Evolution artwork, made of glass, functions as a facade, sunshade and energy saver for Kaari Hospital. The amount of sunshine changes the character of the artwork, depending on the time of the day and the season.

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The visual idea behind the work was the heart of the lake, with water gushing into the pools and finally running out into Lake Saimaa.

Lake Spa, Hotel & Spa Resort Järvisydän, Rantasalmi The Lake Spa is the most ecological spa in Finland. It is hidden within a quarried rock. There are splendid views from the large windows towards Lake Saimaa. The spa designed by Partanen & Lamusuo has been built by using natural materials, such as natural stone and old sunken logs. The building is heated with lake and solar energy.

The unique spa setting of Järvisydän clearly stands out, but, at the same time, it blends into its surroundings. The visual idea was to create an eternal place for washing in nature, a spring, the heart of the lake, with water gushing into the pools and, finally, running out into Lake Saimaa.

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The exhibition design highlighted the display of the gorgeous collections and the creation of a museum tour that is filled with experiences.

RIISA, the Orthodox Church Museum of Finland, Kuopio The idea of a riza (the Finnish word riisa: a metal cover of an icon)

by Partanen & Lamusuo was accepted to be used as the name of the museum, and as a basis for the exhibition renovation, public spaces and graphic appearance. A riza protects an icon but, at the same time, leaves it partly visible. In a similar fashion, the museum preserves its precious cultural treasures, only displaying some of them at a time. A silver riza and a golden riza are elements recurring in the exhibition: almost on all walls, the silver riza functions as a hanging system for the artworks. The golden riza protects the glass surfaces. The exhibition design emphasised the display of the gorgeous collections and the creation of a museum tour that is filled with experiences.

The exhibition On the Stairs of Sanctity (Pyhyyden portailla), the rich world of colours, as well as the lustre of gold and silver – associated with the Byzantine and Karelian Orthodox tradition – are displayed. In addition, we have designed the Palad furniture at the multi-purpose space, shop and exhibition facilities.

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The principal designers of the projects: Agneta Huuhtanen Bratislav Toskovic Iida Nylund Jaakko Berg Jani Ristimäki Kaisa Eriksson Maria Björklund Tea Savolainen

In our work, we want to combine new thoughts and skills to architecture. We believe in the power of bringing together design expertise from different fields. Out of our versatile group of professionals, we always choose the best possible team to serve each project.

Building requires cooperation, whether it is about creating buildings, understanding or wellbeing. Sustainable solutions – both for nature and people – can only be achieved by combining diverse design thinking in a creative way.

Our agency is almost 60 years old, but when it comes to its spirit and character, it is in the best learning age. The experience provides us with the freedom and confidence to experiment. Our projects range from major new construction to demanding renovations, from schools to office buildings.

Our work takes place where the need and opportunities for high-quality creative design meet. The outcomes are places that have a large positive effect on their users and surroundings.

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Photo: Mika Huisman

Parviainen Architects

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Photo: Mika Huisman

Parviainen Architects

ABB Strömberg Park, Vaasa In our design work, we demand boldness from ourselves. The transformation of a factory hall located in Strömberg Park in Vaasa into a modern multi-space office is an example of a project in which there was a clear need for unprejudiced design. The team members were Bratislav Tošković, principal architect, Agneta Huuhtanen, project architect, and Tea Savolainen and Iida Nylund, both interior architects.

The need for the technology company ABB to consolidate its units under one roof led to an impressive makeover of an old industrial property: the factory hall was transformed into a multi-space office for 700 employees. In the new space, history is mixed with leading-edge expertise.

The core of the concept is a creative dialogue between the old and the new. The large size of the hall was utilised by building a new intermediate floor within the building and by locating an indoor street – running through the entire building – to an upper level. The 250-meter-long street brings the massive building together, both visually and functionally.

There are no hallways in the building. Instead, one passes through series of active spaces. The spaces divided with glass surfaces embody open communication and ABB’s interactive working culture.

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The core of the concept is a creative dialogue between the old and the new.

Hankasalmi School Centre, Hankasalmi

Photo: Kuvatoimisto Kuvio Oy, Martin Sommerschield

The architectural language of the building that functions as an attractive landmark is gorgeously sculptural.

We design buildings and environments that increase wellbeing.

When designing schools, it becomes exceptionally clear that we do not just create buildings but also the preconditions for activities, experiences, and encounters.

Hankasalmi School Centre was designed to serve all inhabitants of Hankasalmi. The impressively sculptural building functions as an attractive landmark: the school is an inviting public building, pride for the whole municipality. The key designers of the building were Jani Ristimäki, principal architect, Maria Björklund, project architect, and Kaisa Eriksson, interior architect.

Thanks to the vibrant and adaptable layout of the new school centre, learning and studying can take place in all parts of its facilities.

The lobbies have been equipped to function as facilities for art, culture, and sports; the stairs serve as a place for socialising, learning, and performing. Navigating from one space to another is made easier through various nature themes.

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EKE / The Loft House, Espoo

The design, which plays with the contrasts of the building in an unprejudiced manner, draws from both the past and the future.

Photos: Kuvatoimisto Kuvio Oy, Martin Sommerschield

The Loft House is an office building commissioned by the construction company EKE. It also functions as EKE’s headquarters. We won the design competition with an entry that, in many ways, resembled the company: the design was honest, down-to-earth, and prestigious.

The principal architect of the project was Jani Ristimäki. Jaakko Berg was project architect and Tea Savolainen interior architect.

The design, which plays with the contrasts in the building in an unprejudiced manner, draws from both the past and the future – from the straightforward history of the 60-year-old company, as well as from its current role at the leading edge of technology. The concrete and brick used in the building manifest the strong structure of the company, and the oak – which is the emblem material of EKE (the Swedish word eke: oak) – the warm and human aspects.

From a distance, the facades of the building look punctual and clear.

When drawing closer to the building, the relief surface of the brickwork and the graphic composition of the windows provide the building with more depth and make it look warmer. At the main entrance, the simplified structure was broken by executing an impressive, sculptural section.

When it comes to the land-use plan, we took a risk. By extending the borders provided in the plan, we were able to save handsome trees and create a lap-like entrance square for the building.

Behind the glass wall, there is a lobby space that extends to several floors in height. It attracts the attention of those passing by and arriving in the building. The wide spaces that have been divided by large glass surfaces are also a reference to EKE's future driven attitude.

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The principal designer of the projects: Pave Mikkonen

PAVE Architects PAVE Architects has operations throughout Finland. Our main office is located in Oulu. Our passion is to create high-quality architecture.

Our job description is extensive, and we are not specialised in any certain uses or scales. Each site is unique, and we solve the problems of the project concerned.

The first-rate design work is of great importance to us. The design process leads to an outcome where the polished aesthetics, sustainability, technical aspects and cost awareness are combined. We foster a good work atmosphere. This and the joy of doing things are, inevitably, visible in our style.

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Design Hotel Levi, Village of Sirkka 2019 The design assignment concerned a new main building, with 77 rooms, for the hotel. The project included architectural design, principal design, concept design and land-use planning. The principal designer was Pave Mikkonen, and Paulus Sipilä acted as project architect.

The story of Design Hotel Levi began when a hotel extension was commissioned next to the Levi Hotel Spa. At this point, an idea was born regarding the construction of a new design hotel that would fulfil the international criteria.

The new hotel building rises from the foot of the slope, being part of the rugged fell landscape. The downhill skiing slopes open up almost from the door of the lower floor of the hotel, and all services provided in the centre of Levi are in the vicinity.

The sculptural hotel building reminds us of an erratic boulder, or a rugged fell. The greyed wooden facade fades out the building, making it part of the surrounding pine forest. The facade is vivid due to the copper-toned balcony motifs that impressively stick out from the facade. The balcony motifs glow when being illuminated in the dark.

The thematics of the exterior architecture continue seamlessly in the interior. The greyed wood and genuine natural materials recur in the lobby and other facilities. Each room is elegant and imposing.

In the interior, the pleasant atmosphere, design and luxury form a memorable yet practical whole.

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The new hotel building rises from the foot of the slope, being part of the rugged fell landscape.

Villa Ryysyranta II, 2017 The design work concerned a 160-m2 villa. The project included architectural design, principal design, interior design and land-use planning. The principal designer was Pave Mikkonen, and Riikka Lumme acted as project architect.

Villa Ryysyranta II is a continuum that is based on a design of Villa Ryysyranta I. Villa Ryysyranta II executes the principles dealing with a subtle balance between a fragile beach environment and the architecture that leans on tradition. The sparse placement of the building masses, the size, form and material choices, combined with the transparency, root the building steadily in its place.

The facade material for Villa Ryysyranta II is greyed wood that merges beautifully to the pine trunks. Thanks to the slope, it is possible to locate the interior on three overlapping levels. From the entrance, one ascends to a terrace and a lounge, the large windows of which open up – across the plot – towards the sea. The bedrooms and the loft are located on the “back side” of the building.

The design of the exterior architecture, the interior and its fixed furniture, as well as the interior design, which even included a table setting, were carried out in one go. The outcome is Gesamtkunstwerk, or a ‘total work of art’.

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The Housing Company Oulun Tervahovin Siilot, Oulu 2014 The design work concerned the renovation and redevelopment of the old grain silos. The project included architectural design, principal design, project planning, land-use planning, ideas planning and renovation planning. The principal designer was Pave Mikkonen, and Kai Ruuhonen acted as project architect.

As part of the new coming of the Toppilansalmi area, the silo building, – which is a landmark in the area – was converted into a modern residential loft building. The demolition of the old silo structure opened a door for more fascinating, versatile and sustainable spatial solutions.

As large a portion of the original aesthetics of the outer wall of the silo as possible was recreated, as this way, it was possible to come up with a versatile distribution of flats. The selection ranges from one-bedroom flats to neo-lofts, and there are even homes the height of which extends to three levels. There are 95 flats in the housing company.

The round silo structures were utilised as balcony zones. The flat bars of the balconies retain the round form of the silos, providing sufficient privacy. They block some of the direct sunlight, but they are sparse enough in order to let light in, and they do not obstruct the views from the balconies. Together with the glazed and open, low and full-height zones, the balconies have remarkably many uses. They are genuine extensions of the living space.

A rectangular extension continues the silo structure. A sauna and terrace for the residents can be found in the upper part of the extension. The modern facade was executed by using reflective – black and grey – cladding glass. In addition, there is a thoroughly thoughtout composition of narrow, horizontal panels on the facade surface.

In compliance with the original industrial atmosphere of the area, the concrete surfaces that have been cast on site are a visible element in the interior. The industrial spirit in the corridors, combined with the modern solutions and materials, create a hotel-like atmosphere.

The demolition of the old silo structure opened a door for more fascinating, versatile and sustainable spatial solutions.

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The principal designers of the projects: Pekka Salminen Tuomas Silvennoinen

Photos: Kari Palsila

PES-Architects PES-Architects is an international architecture and design office originally founded by professor, architect Pekka Salminen in Helsinki in 1968. Since the 2000s, the leading designer has been architect Tuomas Silvennoinen. The other partners are architect Arttu Suomalainen and Jarkko Salminen, CEO, with Pekka Salminen now focusing on the company’s international operations.

After winning several competitions in China, we opened a second office in Shanghai in 2010. Currently, PES-Architects employs some 80 professionals.

Our assignments are often large and complex public projects, such as Helsinki Airport, West Harbour Terminal 2, the Wuxi Grand Theatre and the Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre.

Increasingly, we work on hybrid projects that may also include cultural and sports facilities, commercial and office premises, or a hotel and flats. We actively collaborate with various parties, such as VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, to develop ecological materials and technologies. Together with our clients, we explore means of optimising energy consumption. Examples of this include the roof wings of the Wuxi Grand Theatre, which provide protection from the sun, the ceramic louvres and cooling energy solutions in the Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, the automatically controlled lighting and solar panels at West Terminal 2, as well as the Finnish sustainable development solutions for the ongoing Nanjing New Town Centre project.

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Helsinki Airport, Extension of the Long-haul Flights Area

Photos: Kari Palsila

Our largest project consists of the expansion work for Helsinki Airport, which has continued for more than 30 years. The extension of the non-Schengen and long-haul flights area started in 2016 and will be completed in 2021. The principal designer of the project is architect Tuomas Silvennoinen.

The movement of people in space and the daily passenger flows in the terminal were an inspiring starting point for the design. We also drew inspiration from the tradition of terminal design in which we have participated. Our objective was to continue the atmosphere of the existing T2 terminal – created by us and formed by certain materials, structures and details – while also introducing new tones and flavours. Steel and glass are the main materials in the spacious terminal building. We wanted to soften them especially by using wood in different forms.

A terminal is basically a machine – a rational piece of equipment with a task and purpose. On the other hand, there are strong feelings of departures and returns associated with terminal buildings. Good design combines emotion and rational thinking.

Our objective was to continue the atmosphere of the existing T2 terminal – created by us and formed by certain materials, structures and details – while also introducing new tones and flavours.

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Photos: Marc Goodwin

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Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, Fuzhou, China This project involved the participation of a large number of Finnish, Chinese and other international designers and experts. Professor, architect Pekka Salminen was in charge of the principal design.

The inspiration for the design of the culture and art centre was the huge fleet of admiral and explorer Zheng He, who set sail on voyages of exploration from Fuzhou well before the expeditions of Christopher Columbus. The five white buildings of the cultural complex can be seen to resemble ships in full sail. In a later design phase, their forms became rounded, inspired by jasmine petals.

The Fuzhou region is famous for its white ceramics, which once were transported along the Maritime Silk Road to Europe. This inspired us to use specially produced ceramics as the main architectural material, both in the facades and interior design.

Our principle is to take the user’s needs as our starting point and demand high quality in construction, even down to minor details.

This approach instilled trust in the client and can be seen in the outcome. Our objective of sustainable construction can be seen in this, for example: most of the cooling energy required by the building is obtained – with water heat pumps based on our concept design – from the adjacent Minjiang River.

China has the capacity to realise demanding buildings, but their efficient use is inadequately arranged. This is why we introduced the basic idea of large, shared foyer spaces that would also be open during the day to allow various programmes and activities to be organised in them. We called this a supermarket of culture.

Our principle is to take the user’s needs as our starting point and demand high quality in construction, even down to minor details.

This instilled trust in the client and can be seen in the outcome.

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At the same time, our goal was to come up with high-quality architecture that would form an elegant and distinctive gateway between Helsinki and Tallinn.

The Port of Helsinki needed a new terminal for the express ferries operating between Helsinki and Tallinn, which required passengers to be embarked and disembarked in just one hour. Consequently, safe and efficient passenger services were the primary starting point for the design of the building.

At the same time, our goal was to create high-quality architecture that would form an elegant and distinctive gateway between Helsinki and Tallinn. The building should endure time and demanding conditions. The principal designer of the project was architect Tuomas Silvennoinen.

The terminal is located on a narrow tip of land, where we also had to make space for the vehicles boarding the ships. This was solved by designing a compact street-level entrance/exit space, above which the departure lounge and passenger bridges extend over the traffic.

The design of the facades and roof is intended to provide the building with a monomaterial appearance. The form of the building drew its inspiration from the Star Wars trilogy and the sea monsters appearing in historical legends.

The metallic building glitters and breathes through its gills like a sea creature washed ashore from the deep. The ventilation rooms are concealed in the curved ceiling: the supply air is taken from the north, from the level of the roof, and the exhaust air is blown out from the “gills” of the wings.

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Photos: Marc Goodwin, Kari Palsila

West Terminal 2, Port of Helsinki

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The principal designer of the project: Pekka Mäki

Sigge Architects is an architects’ office in Turku, founded in 1956. We produce high-quality and professional design services in all sections of architecture. There are a total of 78 architects and interior designers working in our company.

Our long-term activities have given us confidence and credibility, as well as an extensive clientele. Our clients include the Finnish State, cities and towns, municipalities, communities, industry, banks and insurance companies, trade, various institutions and private developers. Amongst the most significant assignments, so far, are the Embassy of Finland in Berlin, Arken – which is the Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology of Åbo Akademi University – and an extension for the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai.

Our assignments range from small tasks to extensive design projects. The 3D and data modelling is part of our design process, and we take sustainable development into account. We already have achieved Leed Platinum certification, and we have observed the bluegreen factors, as well as the use of geothermal heat and solar panels.

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Photos: Vesa Loikas

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EduCity, Kupittaa Campus, Turku EduCity, which is the latest addition to Turku Science Park, combines the needs of a higher education campus and business life. The general concept is based on a design with which we won the Turku Science Park ideas competition in 2012. The actual design work took place from 2017 to 2020. The principal designer is architect Pekka Mäki.

EduCity is located next to the Kupittaa railway station. The current buildings represent various architectural styles and periods, forming a fascinating whole. EduCity is connected to the adjacent ICT building via a bridge and provides a connection to a pedestrian street that runs on the campus.

In our design work, we wanted to create a site that combines a higher education institution and the industrial appearance of the area. The finishing touches require precision. Concrete is visible as a structural and aesthetical element. The timber walls create a softer, Scandinavian atmosphere. The colourful floors and textiles bring joy to the facilities.

In addition, we also wanted to design a learning environment of the future, where part of the facilities are open space, part more conventional enclosed space. All spaces can be adapted – with the help of walls and curtains – into smaller and larger spaces.

All facilities that have been meant for quiet working have been equipped with glass walls. The cafés are located further away, close to the roof terrace. Silk-screen printed glass has been used in the skylight of the building, which reduces the amount of incoming light.

The office and learning spaces open up towards an atrium, where the wooden cubes create a fascinating atmosphere. The cubes are there for the acoustics of the building: they reduce the echo in the space.

Also in other respects, the materials play an important role. Right from the beginning, the client hoped that the building would be made of concrete. The handmade Kolumba tiles are the material for the facade. The tiles link EduCity to the brick-built DataCity building. The ventilation plant room has been clad with an aluminium-magnesium alloy that creates a visual connection to the ICT building. There is a great deal of art in the building, which is an important part of the EduCity project and the other development projects of Turku Technology Properties.

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In our design work, we wanted to create a site that combines higher education institutions and the industrial appearance of the area. The finishing touches require precision.

Concrete is visible as a structural and aesthetical element. The wooden walls create a softer, Scandinavian atmosphere.

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The principal designers of the projects: Marja-Riitta Elomaa Sinikka Muurimäki Jouni Pohto Jukka Siren

Siren Architects Our nearly 100-year-old architectural practice is currently headed by a third generation of architects. The designer of the Parliament House, J.S. Siren, established the company in 1928. Kaija and Heikki Siren took over in 1949, succeeded by Jukka Siren in 1984, at which point the firm received its current name, Siren Architects Ltd. Today, the management of our company also includes Deputy Managing Director, architect Marja-Riitta Elomaa, as well as architects Sinikka Muurinmäki and Jouni Pohto. Our office employs 18 people, the majority of whom are architects.

During our history, we have implemented a large range of projects.

Over the last few years, we have been involved in designing sports facilities and indoor swimming pools, as well as projects abroad and residential, executive and production buildings.

The most significant works in our firm’s history are the Parliament House and the Circle House (Ympyrätalo) in Helsinki, as well as the Baghdad Conference Palace in Iraq. Our design projects over the last decades have included, for example, the Consulate-General of Finland in St. Petersburg, the Finnish Embassy in Riyadh, as well as the Salohalli sports venue in Salo and the Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences.

The most important work by an architect, however, is not always the biggest and most visible project. It may even be the smallest of buildings, provided that the basic design solution and vision capture something essential in the harmony between a human being, the building and the environment. When asked what he considered to be his best work during a relaxed conversation over a cup of coffee, Heikki Siren named a 20-square-metre gazebo, or “Chapel”, at his family’s private summer home on the Lingonsö island.

Architectural design is a creative, individual process. The premise is always defined by the client’s needs and the environment. The architect should listen to the client with a keen ear to make sure that even the subtlest of cues are understood. Our goal is to create added value in the project and to produce a building that fits its purpose superbly, withstands the test of time and takes into account the values of the environment.

We accommodate environmental matters in our designs to make sure that the construction and use of the buildings put as little strain on the environment as possible. The buildings are designed to be spatially efficient and energy-efficient, with modifiable spaces. The materials selected are durable, maintainable and recyclable.

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The most important work by an architect is not always the biggest and most visible project. It may even be the smallest of buildings, provided that the basic design solution and vision capture something essential in the harmony between a human being, the building and the environment.

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Energia Areena, Vantaa Our firm has longstanding traditions in designing sports buildings.

The projects have spanned from indoor swimming pools to stadiums, ice stadiums and multipurpose halls. We have designed both new sports buildings and renovation and extension projects.

The Energia Areena in Vantaa is a multipurpose arena with a design brief of considering the needs of several user groups, the varied contexts in which the arena is used, as well as a safe and smooth audience traffic. The natural light flooding in through large windows is of great significance in creating the indoor atmosphere. In addition, the windows provide a better view of the activities inside the arena from the outside.

Energia Areena plays a prominent role in the overall character and cityscape in the Myyrmäki sports area. That is why we paid significantly more attention to the appearance of the building than is typically done with an ordinary sports arena. The end result is a measured whole both functionally and spatially – and from the point of view of the local cityscape.

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Architectural design is a creative, individual process.

The premise is always defined by the client’s needs and the environment.

The architect should listen to the client with a keen ear to make sure that even the subtlest of cues are understood.

SEB Headquarters, Helsinki Originally designed by J.S. Sirén, the modern architecture classic built in 1935 on Eteläesplanadi Street was in need of thorough renovations, when the international corporate bank SEB took over as the main user of the building. The valuable architecture was restored in cooperation with the architectural heritage authorities.

The interior underwent a significant modernisation, while still maintaining the original atmosphere of the building. A new open staircase was designed for the main area to connect the facilities across six floors. The facilities were modernised with respect for the timeless values entailed in the building, yet also meeting important current objectives. The project was awarded the LEED Gold Certificate.

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Haaga-Helia Porvoo Campus The developer organisation in the Haaga-Helia Porvoo Campus project is a long-term partner of ours. In connection with our previous joint project, we surveyed the views of the students and staff concerning their preferences on modern learning spaces. The responses were strongly in favour of transparency, openness and a sense of community.

The Porvoo Campus is the second university of applied sciences project that we designed for the same client; the ideology of an open learning environment has been incorporated even more holistically to cover all functions of the building.

The multipurpose, open and flexible use of the learning spaces is of particular importance when it comes to the functionality of the campus, where the personnel of three different organisations and the students of two universities of applied sciences work together in close proximity, using the same facilities.

The principles that informed the designs for the use of the spaces were openness and encounters, which were selected to foster learning together and the sharing of knowhow. The campus is also open to the public on a daily basis, offering a pleasant restaurant, a comprehensive library and varied meeting places.

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The multipurpose, open and flexible use of learning spaces is of particular importance when it comes to the functionality of the Campus, where the personnel of three different organisations and the students of two universities of applied sciences work together in close proximity, using the same facilities.

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The principal designers of the project: Toni Väänänen Niina Rissanen Johanna Into

Tähti-Set Architects

Photos: Anders Portman, Kuvatoimisto Kuvio Oy

Our history begins in 1933, when architect Jaakko Tähtinen established an architecture studio in Tampere. Second-generation architect Antti Tähtinen took over the company from his father.

The current managing director is Toni Väisänen. Roughly 60 skilled architects – among them ten interior architects – work at our offices in Tampere and Helsinki.

We specialise in a wide range of public construction projects, with particular focus on hospitals and health care facilities. At present, we are involved in all of the largest hospital projects in Finland.

The keyword in our design work is user-orientation. The client’s wishes are refined at the hands of our designers. New types of design solutions are tested by utilising the virtual environment.

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New Buildings of Tampere University Hospital The front yard project in the Tampere University Hospital Reform Programme 2020 entailed four new hospital buildings and an underground parking facility. Tähti-Set partners, architects Toni Väisänen, Johanna Into and Niina Rissanen, served as the principal designers of the new buildings.

With the exception of the Paediatric and Adolescent Hospital and the parking facility, the design work was carried out in cooperation with our long-term collaborator, UKI Arkkitehdit Oy. Protest Design Interior Architects was in charge of the interior design for Buildings D and N. Inspiration for the project sprang from the opportunity to create a new, more functional environment for the benefit of the patients.

Hospital staff were at the centre of the design work – we listened to them with a keen ear at every stage of the process. Functionality is the most important aspect in a hospital. At the same time, we need to create pleasant spaces that support the patients’ recovery and the well-being of the staff.

The new buildings are part of a hospital campus that has evolved over several decades, making the area even more densely built. The previously scattered units were brought together, reducing the need for patient transport. One significant change was the removal of parking from the front of the hospital. The underground parking facility now offers direct access to the new main lobby. The yard space that was freed up from parking was transformed into a pleasant and elegant city square. The familiar white is repeated in the colouring of the buildings. In addition, each building has its own identifying colour that also serves as a wayfinding clue.

A particularly satisfying aspect of the process for us architects was the involvement of artists from the early planning phases onwards, which meant that we were able to integrate the art into the architecture. All of the new buildings contain works of art both inside and out. The Tampere Region is a theme that is carried through the pieces, which is also seen in the motifs and colours of the large-format prints used in the interior design.

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Functionality is the most important aspect in a hospital. At the same time, we need to create pleasant spaces that support the patients’ recovery and the well-being of the staff.

Hospital staff were at the centre of the design work – we listened to them with a keen ear at every stage of the process.

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The principal designers of the projects: Ulla Passoja Kimmo Turpeenniemi Cláudia Antão

Our company was founded by professor and architect Uki Heikkinen in 1958 in order to serve the growing business activities in the Oulu region. At the beginning, there were four employees at the company.

Currently, the number of partners is nine and the number of employees, who are architects and designers, is approximately 80. We have offices in Oulu, Helsinki and Jyväskylä.

Our architecture can be adapted to many kinds of sub-areas. The common factor in our projects is that we are at the disposal of all parties who deal with professional developers. Our fields of expertise are action- and user-oriented design.

Our design assignments range from small scale design tasks to large area plans. Over the past decades, we have designed thousands of buildings in Finland and abroad. Each design task is equally significant for us. In compliance with our values, we favour long-term solutions and durability that resists time. As far as possible, we use materials the carbon footprint of which is small.

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Photo: Kuvatoimisto Kuvio Oy

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Photos: Kuvatoimisto Kuvio Oy

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The New Järvenpää Social and Health Care Centre JUST The idea of the City of Järvenpää was to concentrate the City’s health and social services to a modern hybrid building. This was a very pleasant starting point for our design work. We were also inspired by an objective of the extensive engagement of citizens and employees who would work in the building in the future, in the design of a shared place for meeting people.

The client wanted to use such designers in the project who would inspire – in a new way – the users of the building to adopt an interactive role. The VALOTM design method, which used a 1:1 CAVE virtual space, functioned excellently in this purpose.

The building was designed by using the principle of open construction, as the aim was to provide the building with as extensive flexibility of use and adaptability as possible. In addition, the aim was to link the new social and healthcare centre to the red-brick architecture of Järvenpää Hall and the City Hall. In the architecture of the JUST building, which has sharp corners, the vision is executed by the use of ceramic tiles.

Various kinds of wall paintings and glass graphics were made in order to arrange the interior and orientate the users of the building.

They were – together with the interior architects – executed by local children and young people.

The principal and architectural design was carried out by Arkkitehtitoimisto Tähti-Set Oy and UKI Arkkitehdit Oy. At first, Markus Aaltonen acted as principal designer, and his work was continued

by Toni Väisänen. Architect Raija-Liisa Miesmaa was in charge of the design of the adaptable part of the building. In the design work, we were able to find the correct functional and architectural solutions.

We received excellent feedback from the client and the users after the building was completed.

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The building was designed by using the principle of open construction, as the aim was to provide the building with as extensive flexibility of use and adaptability as possible.

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The key sources for the design inspiration were the Finnish forest, wood and genuine materials, as well as the natural colours of the forest.

Pro Nemus, Äänekoski

Photos: Studio Ilpo Okkonen Oy

Pro Nemus is a visitor centre and a building meant for the presentation of Metsä Group’s Äänekoski Bioproduct Mill to customers. The visitor centre is located at the mill site. Ulla Passoja and Cláudia Antão were in charge of the architectural design in the project, and Kimmo Turpeenniemi acted as principal designer.

The key sources for the design inspiration were the Finnish forest, wood and genuine materials, as well as the natural colours of the forest. When walking in the building, one could be in the forest. At first, the forest is dense and there is little light, then the forest becomes sparser and light-filled, and one may even arrive at a forest clearing.

The form of the building was created by observing the site that was selected for it and the opening views. We also discussed how people would move in the building and around it. The structures and other timber materials are Metsä Group’s products. They are impressively present in the building.

The designers paid attention to the adaptability and lifespan of the facilities. The spaces can be adapted, making them suitable for various kinds of situations and functions. The outcome is an impressive whole made of Finnish timber.

The views opening into and from the building play a key role. The foyer is filled with light. A large glass wall, as well as timber pillars and beams, form an important part of the architecture. On the entrance floor, the material used in the ceiling is timber battens, and lighting fixtures have been arranged in between the timber battens.

In the cloakroom, the ceiling and lighting fixtures transform into a wall. Wooden stairs run to a high exhibition space on the second floor. The impressive element in the space is a green wall covered with moss, which can be studied from various angles.

Art plays an important role at Pro Nemus. The first artwork to be placed in the foyer – which is flooded by natural light – was selected via the Art Goes Metsä installation competition, which was organised for the students of Aalto University and Lahti Institute of Design. The winning entry used pulp in its design. The execution of the artwork and building was carried out side by side. At the exhibition space, there is also a temporary, interactive exhibition on sustainable forestry and the opportunities provided by timber materials.

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The principal designers of the project: Outi Palsaari Tommi Heinonen

VSU maisema-arkkitehdit

Photos: Hannu Rytky

VSU maisema-arkkitehdit is a family business that provides services in landscape architecture and urban planning. It was founded in 1998 and has 14 professionals in its team.

Our offices are located in Helsinki and Oulu. Our services cover everything from inspiring land-use planning to high-quality implementation planning. In our work, we always take into account all six seasons. In landscape design and urban planning, we aim at creating a pleasant environment that is safe and healthy.

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Hyväntoivonpuisto Park, Helsinki The principal designers of Hyväntoivonpuisto (“Good Hope Park”) are Tommi Heinonen (1967–2019) and Outi Palosaari. The architecture of the park embodies the values of the 2010s and 2020s, introducing new trends but remembering the past. In terms of the cityscape and functions, Hyväntoivonpuisto Park is a high-quality new recreational area in Jätkäsaari, which is a new inner-city district.

The design of the park aimed at creating a pleasant landscape, a series of landscape spaces and a harmonious whole formed by them.

The high-quality engineering structures enrich the important pedestrian and bicycle routes and the cityscape, creating a unique identity for the new district.

The strong bridge elements are landmarks in the Jätkäsaari district. The bright orange steel bridges of lattice construction connect the different parts of the lush park, crossing Välimerenkatu Street and Länsisatamankatu Street. The black exposed aggregate concrete in the folding, art-bearing retaining walls – which are more than five

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The design of the park aimed at creating a pleasant landscape, series of landscape spaces and a harmonious whole formed by them.

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metres high– and the high-polished terrazzo concrete surfaces refer to the cliffs that were located on this site in the past.

The activity areas – which have steel wire mesh fencing and which are embedded in the shape of the terrain – form transparent cylinders in the centre of the park. The park boasts a daycare centre, a dog park, as well as play and sports areas. The vegetation is abundant and trees have been planted, in places, very close to each other, as the idea was to create an atmosphere of a local forest.

Hyväntoivonpuisto Park is significant in terms of the cityscape and landscape. Its recreational value in the middle of a densely built city is undisputed. An underground waste management centre, a parking facility and the other quarried facilities made the project very demanding.

The design and construction task was complex due to the hundreds of ongoing projects in the area.

Data modelling – which is amongst our core competencies – was comprehensively utilised in the design and construction of the park.

In the building design phase, the first data model for park construction in Finland was made.

Later, the knowhow has been utilised in the drawing up of the data modelling requirements for the national landscape design activities.

Hyväntoivonpuisto Park also functions as a research site regarding the effects of the use of biochar in the soil.

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FINNARC Finnish Architecture

The FinnArc book introduces the reader to the work of Finnish architects and architecture practices in the form of stories and images. The offices describe the process through which their recent and best works were conceived. Sustainable development and ecological solutions are also featured prominently. More than 30 architects’ offices were involved in the making of this book, presenting a total of more than 80 design projects. The volume also entails an introduction to the Expo 2020 Dubai and the Finland Pavilion at the Expo.

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