Space Design ENG by A-Press Digital / PhotoCom Oy

Space Design

Finnish Interior Architecture

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 Editor: Risto Ala-Peijari Writing: Satu Jarva ja Riitta Niskanen Translations: Satu Jarva Layout: Mikko Ala-Peijari Book cover photo: Rune & Berg Design / Aleksi Tikkala (photo mirrored) First edition, July 2021 Copyright © PhotoCom Oy 2021 www.a-press.fi ISBN: 978-952-7309-02-5 Printing house: Printall AS

Space Design

Foreword Finland is well known for its very high-quality design. Scandinavian style is appreciated around the world, and it is easily recognizable. Finnish Space Design is part of this design heritage, but it also has its own Finnish special feature. We wanted to implement this book, the purpose of which is to give at least a little perspective on Finnish interior architecture. Most of the designers in the book are members of Ornamo Art and Design Finland, and most of them work in architecture firms. This first Space Design book describes Finnish interior architecture in a diverse way. The designers featured in the book tell about their work and its results. The stories reflect their traditional and strong attitude towards nature, which is especially evident in the abundant and skilful use of wood in interior design. Finnish interior architecture also includes special consideration of sustainable development as one of the essential starting points for design. The book is a truly great collection and a story about the creative know-how and wide versatility of our country’s interior architecture today. A digital version of the book has also been created for distribution around the world.

Contents

page 46 The use of wood material is popular in Finnish façade and interior construction. Wood is an ecological, durable and versatile material, the use of which can also be seen in this book, for example, in JKMM Architects’ project Fyyri.

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Agile Work

Artesisustus Värjy Virve

02 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

Aivan

Avarrus Architects BST-Arkkitehdit

INNER Interior Architechts JKMM Architects

Jouni Leino Design Studio Kohina

Kokema Design KVA Architects

Lukkaroinen Architects Luovaus Arkkitehdit Novosan

Parviainen Architects PES-Architects Pure Design Puroplan

Rune & Berg Design

Schauman Architects Scope Design Oy Sensory Spaces Studio Arcibella Tilassa

Tähti-Set Architects VALO Work & Hotel Valoa Oy

20 32 38 42 46 52 56 62 68 74 80 84 88 92 98

102 106 110 114 120 124 130 134 138 142

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Text: Minna Borg

Yuki Abe Furniture Designer of the Year 2021

Blom chair, Vivero.

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Based on proposals and applications, this year, the choice was made by interior architect SIO Tiina Närkki from The Interior Design Agency of the Year 2020, FYRA, interior architect SIO and Interior Designer of the Year 2019 Ari Kanerva, interior architect SIO Petra Lassenius and architect SAFA Eero Lundén. The secretary of the jury was Minna Borg, Secretary General of SIO.

www.vivero.fi

The Finnish Association of Interior Architects, SIO annually elects either the Interior Architect of the Year, the Interior Design Agency of the Year or the Furniture Designer of the Year from its members. The jury that is selected each year separately makes the choice. The purpose of the nomination, since 1984, is to draw attention to developments in the field of interior architecture and furniture design and highlight significant implemented projects, products and their designers. This year, SIO named Yuki Abe (born 1974), who has a long experience as a furniture designer, the Furniture Designer of the Year. Yuki graduated from the University of Art and Design Helsinki as an interior architect and furniture designer in 2005. Yoki has also studied at the Lahti Institute of Design and the Musashino Art University in Tokyo. Yuki’s successful career in furniture design began in 2005 when his Master of Arts thesis at the University of Art and Design was awarded the best thesis of the year on behalf of the Finnish Furniture Foundation. The same project was recognised by Sato, who chose it as the piece of furniture that increases living comfort. Yuki Abe has mainly designed furniture for the Finnish furniture company Vivero, which is known for its high-quality domestic public space furniture and tables for Selka-line, acoustic room dividers for Barrisol and a sofa for the Chinese company Wowdsgn. The imaginative Yuki Abe is a prolific designer of unique furniture and his designs have been chosen for spaces where a strong visual look and, at the same time, extreme comfort is needed from the furniture. Abe’s design has also attracted wide international attention. The jury finds the furniture designed by Yuki Abe sympathetic and playful, also careful details and usability are highlighted in the furniture. The design is distinctive, inventive and the result combines Japanese and Finnish minimalist aesthetics beautifully. Yuki works at Mottowasabi Ltd and is a partner in Luomoa Ltd, which does product design and creates new concepts for interior construction.

Kimono chairs and table & Unchiwa splash shield, Vivero. Finger sofa, Wowdsgn.

You can find out more about Yuki Abe’s work and field of work on the website www.mottowasabi.fi and www.luomoa.fi.

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Yuki Abe – Furniture Designer of the Year 2021

Yuki Abe always approaches design from a new perspective.

Tomoko, acoustic and privacy element, Vivero

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SIO For a good environment - Interior Architects SIO

Interior Architects SIO association is a professional organisation that shares information on the diverse professional skills of interior architects. SIO’s activities aim to improve the environment’s good quality and promote cultural, ethical, and sustainable development values. SIO has more than 740 members. SIO was founded in 1949, and we are a member organisation of Ornamo.

www.sio.fi www.ornamo.fi 13

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www.agilework.fi

Agile Work

Agile Work is a workplace transformation company founded in 2015. We help companies define, design, implement and develop happier, healthier and more productive work environments. We are experts in workplace transformation and development, interior architecture, service design, and project management. We believe in multidisciplinary workplace design and development. Bluefors specialises in low-temperature measurement systems used in the development of quantum computers, information technology, particle physics, and radio astronomy, among others. The target was Bluefors’ property in Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki. Agile Work was responsible for the construction consultation, design services and implementation of the renewal.

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The principal designers of the projects: Antti Pitkänen Esa Santamäki Heidi Valkola Ida Broms Kristina Noor-Ilander Mia Joukas Soroush Kalatian Tommi Lydman

The colours of the Bluefors brand are displayed in the interior, where warm wood is combined with cool shades of blue.

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Agile Work

We created an entirely new workplace concept, which supports the company’s strong international growth. A brand-new working culture was introduced alongside the renovation, and employees moved from separate offices into activity-based to improve the interaction between units. The colours of the Bluefors brand are displayed in the interior, where warm wood is combined with cool shades of blue. Several conference and individual working facilities, which the staff can book through a reservation system, were planned as part of the office space. Vaisala is a global leader in environmental and industrial measurements. Vaisala built a new state-of-the-art R&D and innovation centre in Finland. Our office was commissioned to carry out a user-centric space design project, the aim of which was to continue the participatory workplace strategy project implemented in 2017. Users were involved through workshops and a digitally facilitated design process. This allowed the various stakeholders to participate in the design, commenting, evaluating and developing the project. The developed workplace design was based on extreme multifunctionality and flexibility to support the changing requirements of the R&D teams. The aim was to ensure that the collaboration runs smoothly throughout the projects and enables experimental product development “from idea to product”.

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Agile Work

Located at the Nokia Headquarters in Espoo, Finland, the Nokia Executive Experience Center (EEC) offers an experiential environment where visitors can talk faceto-face with Nokia experts, gain knowledge of Nokia products and solutions and explore Nokia’s latest innovations. At the core of the EEC is Nokia World, an experiential space that welcomes visitors and illustrates the direction of Nokia’s future with interactive demos and immersive experiences. Nokia EEC hired us and our cooperation partner Noisy Studio to define, design, and deliver an experiential space that would serve as a modular presentation platform that would create a 360-degree demonstration and understanding of Nokia’s various solutions. We implemented an easy-to-maintain, self-standing, modular system that ensures the most memorable experience for visitors, personnel, and the Nokia experts who give presentations.

Space Design

www.aivan.fi

Aivan

Four founding members founded design agency Aivan in 2007. Initially, our office focused on boat and product design, which is still the backbone of our operations. Today, we are one of the biggest design studios in Finland, with more than sixty employees, and we also have expanded our services to include digital and brand-based solutions. There are two strong lines in our space planning. For years, we have focused on brand and customer-oriented, often replicable space concepts and commercial environments. Today, we are also working more and more closely on the residence side, for example, with superyachts. We have created dozens of successful and nationally prominent space concepts and facilities, from grocery stores and VR’s dining car to museums, headquarters and

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The principal designers of the project: Aleksi Kuokka Jessica Liman Maiju Uski Mats Lönngren

hospitals. The spaces we design also include dozens of interiors for boats, yachts and other vehicles. The significance of what we do arises from the development of our client’s business. We design long-lasting and durable spaces so that the need for renovation is minimised. Our philosophy is to strive to find ideas and shapes that stand the test of time. A balanced space, stripped of all unnecessary, acknowledging the users and thus seeking beauty, will never go out of fashion! Aktia Studio is a concept and space in Helsinki designed for Aktia Bank’s financial management customers and various events. The lead designers of the project were Aleksi Kuokka, Mats Lönngren and Maiju Uski.

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Aivan

Aktia’s brand renewal inspired the design of the space. The goal was to make the bank’s brand brighter, bolder, more individual and more active. We wanted to question the conventions and traditional ways of construction and communicating credibility. The premises of the bank, inspiring confidence, can have quite a unique look! We were given exceptionally free hands to design after confidence in our ability to interpret the brand, and its heritage had been achieved. We were asked to renew Aktia’s spatial customer experience. Therefore, the design work was based on the need to create a spatial equivalent for the renewed brand and make it the business card of Finland’s oldest bank. It all started with the brand and the users. We strove to communicate the brand, create an atmosphere that is dedicated and recognisable to it. In the outcome, our hand is reflected in the pursuit of usability, durability and spatial cleanliness. At the design site, we also combined digitality and the rugged industrial style of the last century with natural materials and the modern Finnish expression of form. We aimed to make the space dynamic and approachable at the same time. Aktia Studio’s space consists of a reception, a large lounge area, a kitchen, a library-like space and conference rooms that support various encounters. There is also a customer waiting area, a “telephone booth” for video conferences, and relevant toilets and coat hooks.

We aimed to make the space dynamic and approachable at the same time.

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Aivan

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Aivan

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www.artesisustus.com

Artesisustus Värjy Virve The principal designer of the project: Virve Värjy-Krook

The facilities in which we spend our time and where we visit, influence our wellbeing in many ways. They can improve or weaken it. We know how important it is to have functional facilities, lighting, ergonomics, safety and good indoor air. Yet many spaces have bad flaws in these areas. In addition, we often forget to take into account how the surrounding spaces affect our senses, alertness and concentration. My goal is to carefully consider the overall impact when planning. My childhood`s numerous art activities and the years of study in Italy have influenced my way of looking at facilities and finding solutions to them. Nature inspires me, it is strongly associated with our senses as well as our wellbeing. I prefer genuine European materials, with the necessary quality certificates for both environmental and production methods and their impacts. Nature also emerges in my designs through images, patterns, shapes, and colours. I always invest in modifiable lighting, which increases safety and ergonomics and is also energy efficient. I am tremendously inspired by challenging projects, the customers` need for change and diverse industries. The more challenging the project, the more I can, within the limits of the budget, take account of diverse use of space, the wellbeing of its

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users, the comfort and the experientality of the premises in my design. All this culminates in the project I designed for my client Merima Ltd. I was given the task to design partial changes in their 30-year-old premises, so that the increased number of staff would be able to use the common spaces for different needs at the same time. The customer wanted to make the premises stylish, impressive, modern and inviting. The new look had to reflect the shipbuilding industry, the high-quality of the interior design and the brand. Wavy wall panels and wall tiles, deep sea blue and white shades, the dome and the spectacular lighting gave a result that exceeded all expectations. The new space design proved to be functional and so did the old structures with a more modern and fresher surfaces. This was a holistic project where I got to take into account the factors that affect safety, comfort and well-being. The work of an interior architect is first and foremost a service occupation, and as an entrepreneur, I understand the challenges faced by the customer and the impact of changes on the expenditure budget. I have been fortunate to have encountered a wide range of customers and to develop in a constantly more challenging profession.

Interior photos: Mikael Pettersson Photography / portrait photo: Tero Honkaniemi

The wall partitions of the three rooms were demolished during the renovation. The new open multipurpose space was divided into four operating areas - cooking, coffee making, dining and break rooms. 29

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Artesisustus Värjy Virve

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www.avarrus.fi

Avarrus Architects

For us in Avarrus, the décor is part of the architecture. In our opinion, the experience of spaces consists of the combined impression of the whole and the memorable details. Our goal is to create spaces that reflect our solid knowledge of colours and materials, as well as the values of our design: durability, topicality, and the well-being of the users of the space. As professionals, we make sure that the entirety works, and the customer’s wishes are fulfilled. The residences presented here have been designed in their entirety with the architects of our office, and this synergy is key to achieving outstanding results. In addition to residential properties, we also design business premises, learning environments, hotels and other public spaces.

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In 2018 began the renovation of a Tikkurila rarity, an Art Nouveau house over 110 years old, into apartments in Vantaa. Pavilion 2 had served as plant breeding facilities, study rooms and archives until it was decommissioned from state use in 2012. We designed six apartments in the Pavilion that match the original atmosphere of the building. We wanted to avoid unnecessary technology, and the building was restored to gravity ventilation that is healthy, low maintenance and user friendly. Investments were made in the quality of materials, aiming for long service life and easy renewal of building technology. The original small decorative themes and mouldings were conserved and repro-

The principal designers of the projects: Atte Aaltonen Erno Laakso Heini Kilmer Laura Karhunen Meri Murto Niilo Ikonen Pauli Siponen

duced in the building, and the protected windows and high ceilings with original ceiling mouldings were preserved as well. The awnings outside the windows curb the warming of the apartments, and the original light colour was restored to the façade. The colouring of the interior also played an important role and was designed as a whole, covering all the spaces in the building. For the bathrooms and fixtures, we found, in the colour charts and styles of the past world, pleasant and fresh surprises for the residents. These were commented on, among other things, as follows: “I would not have dared to choose this myself, but I fell in love with it right away!” We wish these high-quality and durable interior design solutions a long life.

Photos: Ville Vappula

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Avarrus Architects

The customer wished for a courtyard building located on a narrow plot next to the family home, which would serve as a sauna, a guest house, a cinema and a place for evening get-togethers. The goal of the design was a compact, functional unit with natural materials and interesting details. The sauna building includes a living room, a small kitchen and a loft on it, a sauna with a washroom and a large, covered terrace. The interior was inspired by the nature of the surrounding courtyards, which can be seen from the building’s windows. Wood and stone were used in structures, finishes and details in a versatile and elegant way. Two natural stone fireplaces act as robust guards for the indoor and outdoor living spaces, and atmospheric dark wood and stone were used on the surfaces of the sauna. The residents have enjoyed their new cottage better than they could have imagined!

The interior was inspired by the nature of the surrounding courtyards, which can be seen from the building’s windows.

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Avarrus Architects

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www.bst-ark.fi

BST-Arkkitehdit The principal designers of the projects: Hanna Viitanen Marika Ågren

Lempäälä talo, completed in the new municipal centre, is a new meeting place for the municipality’s residents. The building offers a library, office, service and business premises, and a parking garage. Tampere-based BST-Arkkitehdit Oy was responsible for the master planning and architectural design, as well as the interior design of the Lempäälä building. The design of a complex serving several user groups began from the land use planning and continued in a user-oriented manner until implementation. From the beginning, the themes of accessibility, energy efficiency and life cycle calculation were included in the design and implementation of the building. The interior design project started, in cooperation with the service designer of the municipality of Lempäälä, with work-

Space Design

shops organised in 2018. The purpose of these workshops was to involve users and residents in the design process from the very beginning. In support of the workshops, BST-Arkkitehdit implemented a virtual model that allowed the residents to explore the building with virtual glasses and comment on the plans. The results of the service design process were utilised in the design throughout the project. The starting point for the furniture design was adaptability in the spirit of sustainable development, not forgetting life-cycle thinking and accessibility. Not everything was bought as new, but the old furniture was renovated, and thus a piece of history was brought to the new premises. Ethereality and light dominate the interior of Lempäälä talo, which offers interesting views of the surrounding area

through large windows. Wooden surface was used in the interior to bring in natural sensations and bind the interior and the aesthetics of the façade into a harmonious whole. The wooden surface is realised both in the rear walls of the service counters and in the side panels of the bookshelves. The brightly coloured upholstery of the furniture brings playfulness to the building. The wish to use these accent colours, found in the graphic look of the municipality of Lempäälä, came from the users, as did many other solutions in the interior design of the building because the users were closely involved in the design process throughout the project. The aim was to avoid a formal atmosphere so that the residents would feel that Lempäälä talo is their living room and meeting place.

Photo: Sergej von Bagh

Ethereality and light dominate the interior of Lempäälä talo, which offers interesting views of the surrounding area through large windows.

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BST-Arkkitehdit

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Photo: Marko Kallio

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www.innerinterior.fi

INNER Interior Architechts The principal designer of the project: Hanna-Marie Naukkarinen

We are a Tampere-based, young and vibrant interior design office. Our work community is creative and knowledgeable, and we support each other’s strengths. Working together is important to us; not only is it effective, but it is also fun and rewarding. Human well-being is at the heart of our operations. We want to be involved in building a higher quality and more sustainable built environment. The most rewarding part of design is to achieve a visually and functionally successful experience of space that meets the customer’s wishes and needs. Our goal is to create long-lasting facilities which can also be updated with minor changes to changing service or operating methods.

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Our design is always based on the customer’s wishes and needs. We do not forget these basic ideas in the twists and turns of the project but rely on them when making interior choices. Our design is also guided by space and architecture, as in the design of Restaurant Holvi. The restaurant is located in a property built in the 1950s. During spring 2020, Holvi, which serves the staff, became in our hands a restaurant that is now popular and acclaimed. The faded interior and the traditional line canteen had to give way to a new visual design as well as catering and service concept. We improved comfort by designing primarily a restaurant, not a staff canteen. We invested in materials, lighting

and acoustics and created variable seating areas for different types of diners. We took into account, with adaptable furniture, not only lunch events but also different styles of events organised in the hall. A significant change in functionality has speeded up the lunch break and left the lunchtime customers more time for recreation and conversation with colleagues. Charming decorative luminaires create warmth and atmosphere; curtains and acoustic works on the wall add comfort by soothing the soundscape. Functionality, visual elements, furniture, as well as materials and colours, are based on a modern visual concept that exudes the atmosphere of the 1950s.

Photos: Okko Sorma

The most rewarding part of design is to achieve a visually and functionally successful experience of space that meets the customer’s wishes and needs.

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INNER Interior Architechts

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www.jkmm.fi

JKMM Architects

JKMM is an integrated design agency of architecture, interior architecture, urban design, furniture design, graphic design and art, creating the next generation of Finnish design. JKMM was established in 1998 after the four founding partners, at the time still students, won a major architectural competition of Turku City Library. Asmo Jaaksi, Teemu Kurkela, Samuli Miettinen and Juha Mäki-Jyllilä continue to steer the creative work at JKMM, together with their new partners Päivi Meuronen and Teemu Toivio. JKMM seeks out projects that will enable the office to create meaningful architecture and design, in order to build a better, more sustainable and happier society. With the most competition prizes in Finland, JKMM

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has grown to become one of the leading offices in Finland and gained international recognition. At JKMM, there are almost a hundred designers working together as a world-class team with shared values. JKMM’s new Finnish library building, Fyyri in Kirkkonummi, exemplifies how libraries are no longer solely about books but about sharing knowledge and experiences through multiple channels. This phenomenon has changed the library typology, turning contemporary libraries into places to find inspiration, learn new things through reading and other activities, and get together. They are not unlike community halls; therefore, Finns today refer to libraries as public living rooms.

Interior photos: Pauliina Salonen / building photo: Tuomas Uusheimo / portrait photo: Hannu Rytky

The principal designer of the project: Tiina Rytkönen

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JKMM Architects

Fyyri is an adaptive reuse project built using the existing concrete structure of the original 1980s library. JKMM has remodelled the building, doubling its volume and introducing a large variety of facilities for community uses, such as rooms for toddler group activities, youth clubs, as well as exhibition areas and spaces for events and performances. The ground level café has a generous 198 square metre reading lounge dedicated to newspapers and periodicals. The reading rooms respect the Finnish modernist tradition of libraries that ennoble the idea of books and learning through their highly crafted design and carefully detailed interiors. At Fyyri, the interiors include bespoke lighting with brass fittings that create warmth and a sense of dignity that is in line with this building typology. JKMM also used brass in the library’s new entrances and hand railings in a way that is inviting and intuitively leads visitors through the public areas. Fyyri’s interior was designed to be welcoming and intimate to enable everyone to find their place in the building. There are cosy spaces and hideaways perfect for children’s stories too. The design of the main reading hall is made up of rhythmic fair-faced concrete posts and beams. Indirect natural light filters through this column-like framework, creating patterns similar to daylight rippling through forest trees. Overall, the building is inspired by its surrounding coastal landscape, and this is reflected particularly in the tones of its interiors. The library building Fyyri opened to the public in October 2020.

Indirect natural light filters through this column-like framework, creating patterns similar to daylight rippling through forest trees. Space Design

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JKMM Architects

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www.jounileino.fi

Jouni Leino Design Studio The principal designer of the projects: Jouni Leino

The furniture’s functional role is often one of the essential starting points in the space design carried out by the interior designer. Furniture allows the space to perform the desired functions, being either a static part of the interior or light and movable, a factor that brings people together or a creator of a peaceful working environment. Furniture has been part of the man-made environment for thousands of years. Furniture also plays an aesthetic role. It is viewed and used, sometimes even in that order, depending on the situation. The task of a furniture designer is to carve out that relationship, and the job of an interior designer is to give that relationship an arena. The occupancy rate of the premises determines the surface materials of the space and the properties required of the furniture used in it. The resistance to wear and tear of structures, upholstery materials or mechanisms must be taken into account when designing furniture for public spaces or choosing it as part of the interior. Mall Of Tripla, arkkitehdit Soini & Horto, photos: Mikael Linden Space Design

Pasila Station, Sweco Arkkitehdit

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Jouni Leino Design Studio

There are also environments, such as ships, where the incombustibility of materials is already the starting point for the design. At the latest, the COVID-19 pandemic has also aroused our understanding of the importance of various bactericidal materials. The cleanable qualities and hygiene of furniture are parts of good interior design, as well as understanding its life cycle, the sustainability of the manufacture and the possibility of recycling parts or assemblies. A good piece of furniture is primarily long-lasting; it ages beautifully and, if possible, circulates well in the secondhand furniture market. Throughout its existence, since the 1990s, Jouni Leino Design Studio’s focus has been on furniture and space design and, in some projects, even on furniture-centred space design. The role of furniture design has always been strong in operations, and the studio has partners both in Finland and abroad. In the field of interior design, the office has followed through shopping centre projects, large office complexes and educational establishment projects. The portfolio includes restaurant, health centre, store and library spaces as well as private homes.

A good piece of furniture is primarily long-lasting; it ages beautifully and, if possible, circulates well in the secondhand furniture market. Space Design

Anji Library, photo: Peter Cheng

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www.kohina.eu

Kohina

Design and architecture office Kohina’s work is based on roots, authenticity and empathy for the users’ experiences and details. A quality environment forms a whole, where everything has its natural place, and the details are thought-out and refined, and spaces, where the feeling of the material, the harmony of colour and the play of natural light appeal to all senses. We specialise in high-quality architecture and space design in a user-oriented and sustainable way. We prefer natural materials, more responsible choices, and, among other things, the use of Finnish wood. We want to influence people’s emotion and mind, create lasting experiences, and contribute to the well-being of people in many ways. We believe that the combination of these goals creates authentic, human-sized and meaningful spaces. In both of our projects featured in this publication, we made timeless material and interior choices, considering the customer’s brand and desired atmosphere, as well as utilising the existing architecture.

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Interior photos: Riikka Kantinkoski / portrait photo: Pasi Järvenpää

The principal designer of the projects: Susanna Kallio

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In both of our projects featured in this publication, we made timeless material and interior choices, considering the customer’s brand and desired atmosphere, as well as utilising the existing architecture. Space Design

Kohina

We were invited to compete for a concept idea for Ilmatar’s new premises. Our proposal was selected, and we started working on the concept together with the customer. In this project, Ilmatar’s new headquarters in a 19th-century cultural building was renovated into a seamless whole of the new and the old. We were responsible for the interior design of the site and the design of the customised fixtures. Modern office space, in line with Ilmatar’s brand and operations, was created in the heart of Helsinki, which includes the entire sixth floor and a modern extension. The attic penthouse is the crown of the building complex. The traditionally echoing, high 1830s spaces and the newly built part were reconciled with the help of an interior design concept that reflects the building’s architecture, wavy shapes and movement of the wind. The 19th-century architecture was intertwined as a part of the modern newbuild so that it does not take away attention from the stunning city views, curved roof surfaces, and well-thought-out overall appearance. Sustainable quality

and Scandinavian style guided the design. It was essential to consider acoustics, lighting and connecting the technology seamlessly to the premises. In the case of the Docrates Cancer Center in Helsinki, inspiration was sought especially from the renewed brand and the hospital’s “human-to-human”-philosophy. There was a wish for a more cohesive and modern whole, inspired by the Docrates brand, which it is comfortable for the patients and their loved ones. A welcoming interior design concept was created for the administrative staff and hospital premises, a functional and appropriate entity whose identifiable interior design solutions help the patient move around the premises. The interior features repetitive round shapes, a harmonious colour scheme, Naava green walls and customised effect walls and furniture. The design respected the building and existing materials. The first impression of the administration’s premises is also harmonious and well-defined: light wood and matching materials support Docrates’ turquoise and orange visual identity.

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Kohina

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www.kokemadesign.com

Kokema Design

Kokema Design is a Helsinki-based design office founded by Sabina Dontcheff in 2013. The firm specializes in comprehensive interior and architectural design in Finland and abroad. The design principles of the studio are respecting the opinions and resources of customers, finding a flexible balance between aesthetics and functionality, and active interaction bet ween stakeholders throughout the design process. The name Kokema derives from the word “experience”. Providing unique experiences through spaces is at the core of Kokema’s work. Today, we need more and more facilities that have a positive impact on us. Offices are not just places to work and meet colleagues - they are also places where you can recharge yourself with enthusiasm and a good mood. The Aspo office project was designed to create a Zen office atmosphere where representativeness and peace of mind meet. The minimalist colour scheme is complemented by the green elements that form the core of the interior design idea. The project aimed to create representative office accommodation with one element that gives the space a clear, distinctive feature. The idea was that this element would change shape depending on the space, creating a continuous theme that runs throughout the office. This idea

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Photos: Rosina Jeleva

The principal designer of the projects: Sabina Dontcheff

The Aspo office project was designed to create a Zen office atmosphere where representativeness and peace of mind meet. 63

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Kokema Design

was implemented with a green plant stand -system explicitly designed for this project. The stand -element is present and connects the entire office, first at the entrance, adding a touch of personality to the meeting rooms and, as a unifying factor of the office, in the kitchen. It is subdued and unobtrusive as an interior decor item but works especially in composition with flowers and lighting. The stunning project began a few years ago when the furniture store owner Skanno proposed a collaboration; it was about furnishing three valuable apartments in Moscow. One was 400 square meters in size and located on the top floor of a wellknown, valuable property in the centre of Moscow. The customer was very quality-conscious, and his expectations of the designer’s work and the collection of the furniture supplier were high. This inspired us and, at the same time, set the bar high enough. The style and atmosphere of the home were expected to be very presentable yet relaxed and cosy. High ceilings, up to five metres in the living room, had to be designed decorative but not too imposing. Important spaces such as the hallway and living room had to be memorable. The designers’ motto, “design is in detail”, was strongly present in this project as well. Lighting design is a substantial part of Kokema’s expertise. It is based on the belief that without proper lighting, the appearance of the space suffers, and the wall materials do not stand out. These principles were used when designing the lighting in the apartment. Combining direct and indirect lighting created a spectacular and, at the same time, pleasant atmosphere. Tranquillity, quality, and timeless style were the project’s goals and achieved in collaboration with all parties.

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Photos: Yaroslav Lukiyanchenko

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Kokema Design

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www.kva.fi

KVA Architects The principal designer of the project: Eija Niemelä

KVA Architects is a design office founded in 1964, and today it is part of Vaero Architects. A team of 27 professional designers provides KVA’s architectural, interior design and workplace development services. The central design philosophy is an inclusive and co-developing design approach, in which the users of the space are actively involved in developing space and interior design solutions. This ensures that the implementations are genuinely user-oriented, insightful and always meet the customer’s needs. Veritas Pension Insurance built a BREEAM Excellent level office building in Turku, and the spaces for Veritas’ headquarters were designed on the top three floors of the building. KVA acted as the designer and partner responsible for Veritas’ workplace development, space solution and interior design throughout the project.

Space Design

KVA Architects

The aim was to create fresh and modern spaces that convey optimism and belief in the future. Responsible material choices and the timelessness of the plans were the starting points for space planning. The aim was to include innovations that support sustainable development in the interior, and material choices highlighted products that utilise recycled materials on surfaces and details. It was also possible to bring the iconic design furniture by Alvar Aalto and Ilmari Tapiovaara, Paavo Tynelli’s lamps and the furniture of Parola Rottinki into the interior as an integral part of the décor and create a continuum and memories of the old head office. The wish was that the natural elements inseparably connected to Finnishness should be a visible and impressive part of the interior. The ash, which is familiar in southwestern Finland and the archipelago, was chosen as a uniform material that passes through the premises. The delicate and ruggedly beautiful archipelago landscape is also reminiscent of the stone surfaces used in the premises: the light, vibrant cement coating and light natural stone surfaces of the café premises resemble smooth beach cliffs covered by frost. The dark granite-like stone surfaces combined with the soft and varying shades of green, in turn, are reminiscent of the atmosphere of forest paths.

The wish was that the natural elements inseparably connected to Finnishness should be a visible and impressive part of the interior.

Space Design

KVA Architects

Space Design

www.lukkaroinen.fi

Lukkaroinen Architects, which has been operating for more than 40 years, has grown over the years into a design agency with more than 70 multidisciplinary experts. One reason for the growth has been the firm’s strong expertise in designing public spaces such as hospitals and schools. The diverse group of experts consists of architects, interior designers and construction architects. At Lukkaroinen, all design work is based on creative thinking, in which each building develops its own identity and a strong idea that carries the design forward from the development stages to the finishing. This results in functional and beautiful solutions that meet the project’s goals. The Keravanjoki community centre is a

Space Design

unified school for nearly a thousand pupils. It is also a key meeting place for the residents of its area, with opportunities for hobbies and culture. The centre is intended to be a building that serves different user groups flexibly and in various ways, and a place where it is comfortable, easy and safe to enter. Light brick and warm timber cladding vary on the exterior walls of the concrete-framed, two-storey building. Efforts have been made to set the rhythm for the long façade surfaces and to make them humane with varying openings, vertical lathing of wooden surfaces and lesenes. The wood cladding continues from the entrances to the lobby. There the rim cladding of the walls and ceilings improves

The principal designers of the project: Diana Lavric Timo Leiviskä Anna Ervasti-Gussander Joona Koskelo Henry Kouva Kaisu Vasara Anni Myllymäki

acoustics and brings warmth to the open space. The entrance hall divides the learning spaces of the square building into four free-form blocks. In the middle of the foyer area, there is a multi-purpose space, in addition to which dining areas, a stage, a café and a project space are also connected to the lobby. The first floor also includes the pre-school and primary school learning facilities, as well as the practical and arts subjects and the gym. The community centre facilities are designed to adapt flexibly to the varying needs of daily use and the changing uses during the building’s life cycle. The building partly utilises renewable solar energy and geothermal energy.

Photos: Aukusti Heinonen

Lukkaroinen Architects

Space Design

Lukkaroinen Architects

Space Design

The community centre facilities are designed to adapt flexibly to the varying needs of daily use and the changing uses during the building’s life cycle.

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Lukkaroinen Architects

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www.luovaus.fi

Luovaus Arkkitehdit The principal designers of the project: Hanna Korhonen Pasi Siistonen

We provide all architectural and head design services, from property inventory and project planning to the delivery of the finished project. We create a clear identity for the building; the architecture of the building reinforces the brand of the user and owner. Our goal is to design buildings and facilities that contribute to the well-being of people and the environment. Our most important task is to ensure that the finished building is as healthy, safe, functional and pleasant as possible for its users. The project completed in Seinäjoki in 2019 is a housing and rehabilitation unit for the intellectually disabled. It also has support services for people with special needs. The new building includes the main building and the housing unit, and it was

Space Design

connected to the therapy house, which was completed in 1983 and now renovated in connection with the construction of the new part. The aim of the design was to combine expert and housing services in the same unit with the current therapy house and thus form a centre providing versatile service for the intellectually disabled. The functions were divided according to the nature of the service and the customer’s service concept so that the customer encounters first expert and therapy services, through which they pass to the wing providing housing services. Upon arrival at the building, you will enter the high central lobby, on the first floor of which is the restaurant used by the support and expert centre. The hall

is connected to the other premises of the service centre. All facilities were designed to be completely accessible and sense friendly. All home groups have their own colouring, which makes it easier to identify the spaces. The interior colours are subdued and soothing. A lot of wood was used in the space, and the central lobby with timber cladding creates a cosy atmosphere for the whole building. The special needs and safety of the people were considered in the space planning; for example, structures and materials that were more durable than standard housing quality were used in the living quarters. Room acoustics were also invested in with noise-cancelling surfaces and textiles.

All facilities were designed to be completely accessible and sense friendly.

Space Design

Luovaus Arkkitehdit

Space Design

www.novosan.fi

Novosan The principal designers of the project: Julia Kuhanen Sanna Lahtivesi

Our story began in 2009 with a waterand environment-saving innovation: the water-free urinal. Just over a decade later, our expertise has become more specialised and, on the other hand, more diverse; we design, implement and maintain firstclass public toilets and offer them the highest quality products on the market. For us, a high-quality bathroom means durable, functional, aesthetic and safe. Specialising in toilets, we do the design work carefully and prefer ecological and durable materials and products, investing in both functionality and atmosphere. The good toilet, better customer experience. Unpleasant lavatories flatten the overall impression of a company, regardless of industry, and their importance in creating a positive customer experience cannot be underestimated. Unfortunately, the importance of toilet facilities is often forgotten even when the company’s premises are being completely renovated. Well-designed, comfortable and practical bathrooms support the development of

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the company’s entire business, when, for example, people in shopping malls enjoy their stay longer and want to come again. As the expert in toilets, we also offer the best products on the market. Quality and environmental friendliness are dear to our hearts - we do not compromise on them. In addition to ecological solutions, we want to highlight material efficiency: material choices made during the design stage - serviceable and sustainable from both an environmental and a life-cycle perspective - do not necessarily mean more expensive implementation. With the right materials and solutions, the maintenance of the toilet facilities will be easier, and in the future, renovations will be possible at a lower cost and effort. It will generate significant savings over the years. We at Novosan know lavatories. A good toilet considers all user types and stakeholders; it supports the brand image and strengthens the customer relationship. Moreover, it does it in style - practically, ecologically and cost-effectively.

Everything related to toilets is close to our hearts, and we want to be involved in building a better toilet culture in Finland – one lavatory at a time! 85

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www.parviainenark.fi

Parviainen Architects

Our office is almost 60 years old, but in terms of mind and nature at the best learning age. Experience does not petrify but brings freedom and security to explore. Our team of professionals from different design industries is constantly diversifying, as we want to combine new thinking with our architecture firm. The creative combination of different skills is the only way to create sustainable solutions for both nature and people. You succeed in life, or you learn. The same applies to design work. The best projects will reward you with the joy of both success and learning. The renovation of the cinema Maxim in Helsinki provided the whole city with touching successes and precious new experiences.

Space Design

The Maxim, which consists of two screens, is one of the oldest in Finland: the cinema has been operating on Kluuvikatu continuously since 1909. The current building was completed in 1974. Maxim is a historical gem, especially because very few interiors are left from the seventies in Finland. The smaller of the screens, Maxim 2, is a replica of the cinema which operated in the early 20th century. The screen, protected in the city plan, was restored to its original glory in cooperation with the Finnish Heritage Agency: the luxurious green benches and restored wall coverings of the suspenseful space whisk you on a time-travel trip even before the film begins. The bigger screen upstairs, the dark toned Maxim 1, is instead a compliment

The principal designers of the project: Mikko Lahikainen Iida Nylund Eija Raunio Jyri Jernström Juha Taponen

to the seventies. Our office was responsible for planning the entire renovation of the cinema. History and future were woven together using an interior design concept made with piety. The concept was designed to respect Maxim’s building history values and ensure that the current tenant has the potential to operate and thrive on the premises in the 2020s as well. The unique environment was made user-friendly and inviting to all; the accessibility of the cinema was improved, and the foyers were renovated. In addition, the visiting experience was enriched by designing two bars, which allow you to enjoy Maxim’s films and delicious milieu with a glass of wine, for example.

The renovation of the cinema Maxim in Helsinki provided the whole city with touching successes and precious new experiences. 89

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Parviainen Architects

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www.pesark.com

PES-Architects The principal designers of the projects: Kai Lindvall Tuomas Silvennoinen

The projects designed by our office consist of challenging public buildings: theatres, terminal facilities, railway stations, educational institutions, sports centres, office and residential buildings and demanding renovation projects. In addition to designing working environments, spaces, furniture and signage, the work of the interior team includes concept design and customer-oriented design using service design methods. It is not possible to define just one most significant project from everything else we have done, but we have designed prominent cultural buildings in China, for example. Our work in China is in itself a rather exceptional achievement when it comes to Finnish design offices globally. We have an international design team representing over ten different nationalities. Kiseleff & Heikel designed the three-storey Neo-Renaissance house Amanda, located at Eteläesplanadi 8. It was completed in 1884, and an extension designed by

Space Design

Jaakko Laapotti was added in 1977. The protected façades of the old part were renovated in co-operation with the Building Control Services and the Helsinki City Museum. The interior design included a conference centre, a café, common areas and office space. The design task also involved signage. The visual atmosphere of the interior was influenced by Ville Vallgren’s Havis Amanda statue and the historic colour layers of the façade of the old part. In addition, façade decorative motifs have been printed on the acoustic surfaces as simplified ornaments. What was interesting about the project was the dialogue between the old and the new layers. In Amanda, we had the opportunity to draw on the atmosphere of an old building represented by the Neo-Renaissance façades. Similarly, we wanted to bring warmth and experientiality with the warm world of tones and materials to the rational look of the 1970s represented by the extension part.

What was interesting about the project was the dialogue between the old and the new layers.

Photos: Kari Palsila

Space Design

PES-Architects

We have been involved in the development of Helsinki-Vantaa Airport for decades. The aim of the design in the non-Schengen area of the terminal building was to create an experiential and memorable travel experience. Finnish wood brings warmth and softness to the “hard” terminal architecture, illustrated with Finnish nature themes. Special furniture was made, for example, for passport control, security control, and in the gate area for service points, various benches and recliners in the waiting area, charging points for mobile devices, partitions and railings, as well as signage and

Space Design

monitor racks. Large luminaires made of thin plywood and wooden relief walls are made of Finnish birch. The walls upholstered with wood veneer have dozens of pictures of Finnish birds and forest animals milled into plywood. At the airport, we have maintained and at the same time continuously developed a particular terminal atmosphere, the building materials of which are steel, glass and the deliberate use of wood. Details in both structures and furniture are essential to us. Our goal is always to make a complete work of art and find a result that exceeds the customer’s goals and expectations.

Space Design

PES-Architects

Space Design

Details in both structures and furniture are essential to us. Our goal is always to make a complete work of art and find a result that exceeds the customer’s goals and expectations.

Space Design

www.puredesign.fi

Pure Design The principal designer of the project: Esa Vesmanen

Our office originated from two separate offices: one was focused on space, exhibition and furniture design, the other on industrial design. Art installations and material experiments often inspire our work. We specialise in new types of concepts and renovations of demanding public spaces. We work with an extensive subcontracting network and in product design with various manufacturers. We also manufacture our own products, such as Finom wooden lamps. Our designers consider first the environment, the entire planet, and the principles of sustainable construction in everything we do. We need to think about what kind of legacy and world we are leaving to our grandchildren. Module Quiet Spaces are industrially manufactured space solutions resulting from long product development. The source of inspiration is the modernist faith in a better future and in the power of functional structures in architecture. The head designer is interior architect Esa Vesmanen. Module spaces are unique pods of space that lie in the middle ground between

Space Design

furniture design and space design. They are industrially manufactured as serial production. The furniture-like fabrication enables a high-level of precision. The spatial pods are suitable for many different public spaces such as offices, schools, museums, airports and hospitals. The suitability of the space units for different architectural requirements, together with good usability, ergonomics and atmosphere, create the starting point for the design. Despite the demanding requirements, the designer’s hand is clearly recognizable. The spaces are airy, luminous, clear, and acoustically top notch. They also have a distinctive, streamlined form. Module’s structural solutions are made in a materially efficient and 100 per cent recyclable way. All components can be disassembled and reused. The materials are emission-free, and the indoor air quality in the pods is excellent. The target market for the space units is global, so logistics and easy assembly have also been taken into consideration in the design.

In everything we do, our designers consider first the environment, the entire planet, and the principles of sustainable construction.

Photos: Carl Bergman

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Pure Design

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www.puroplan.fi

Puroplan

Our office was founded early in the 80s. Today, our work includes all kinds of fun public construction: hotels, restaurants, shopping centres, ski resorts and spas with their surroundings. Our expertise is particularly emphasized in the design of museum sites and protected buildings, which include Hotel Lilla Roberts, Oslo’s top hotel Amerikalinjen and Scandic Grand Central Helsinki –hotel, one of the largest in Finland on its scale and located at Helsinki Central Station in a building designed by Eliel Saarinen. The object of our project was the transformation of an office building and its expansion into a hotel. Hotel U14 is the

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first unique hotel in the Nordic countries to be part of the high-quality international Marriott Autograph Collection Hotels chain. The building is a seven-storey office building designed by architect Kurt Simberg, completed in 1969. The first and top floors are a completely new building: a new hotel floor was built upstairs on the site of the former sauna and conference facilities. It provides magnificent rooms, with windows over three meters high and sea views. The hotel’s impressive entrance, reception hall, restaurant and bar are located in the former parking garage at street level. Changing the challenging 1,500 square metres cold space to warm

required an altered city plan. Hotel U14 offers its guests an inspiring and modern hotel and a homely atmosphere combined with the services of a high-class hotel. The hotel has 117 joyfully decorated rooms, high-quality and spacious meeting rooms, a first-rate restaurant, a creative bar and sauna and gym facilities. The interior exudes relaxation, elegance, and good humour. The objects and patterns feature an animal theme that leaves a smile on the lips of both children and adults. I believe the decor needs to include surprise and bold things so that you want to tell everyone about them. May it be lush rather than minimalist!

Photos: Tomi Parkkonen

The principal designers of the project: Jaakko Puro Minna Keltto Niina Isojärvi

Hotel U14 offers its guests an inspiring and modern hotel and a homely atmosphere combined with the services of a highclass hotel.

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www.rbdesign.fi

Rune & Berg Design

Sponda’s Arkadia no: 6 property in the centre of Helsinki was completely renovated in 2020. We participated in the design of the entrance hall and several premises of the business tenants. In addition, we designed the signage for public spaces as well as the façade visibility concept for both the property and the tenants. The entrance hall used to be an outdoor space that served as the building’s loading platform and street space before renovation. The idea was for the lobby to function as the plaza of the office building, where employees, customers, and occasional city dwellers intersect as they move into different wings of the office building or walk to the street-level cafe and restaurant. There are almost five-meter tall doors pivoting from the central hinge on both sides of the lobby area, leading to both the restaurant and the café. When the pivot doors are open, the space remains consistent and creates an image of the flow of air and wind on the plaza.

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In the interior material choices, we used architectural and façade-like materials to create a stylish and sophisticated impression. The copper surface of the reception desk acts as a contrasting surface to the copper concrete-like wall surface that dominates the entire lobby space. Copper was also used in the signage of the lobbies and stairwells to create a coherent atmosphere and a finished impression. The entrance hall is dominated by an impressive work of lighting art, which emphasises the accommodating reception desk and so acts as a guiding and visual element. The general lighting was intended to be unassumingly soft and also adaptable for different times of day and seasons, as well as for events held in the space. Arkadia 6 is a property whose majestic architectural look excites again and again. A visit to the entrance hall awakens the visitor to a valuable and warm experience from which to draw energy for the whole day.

The principal designers of the project: Jenni Herkama Hanna Herkama Aino Keto Riina Ruska Sini-Tiina Sundberg Jenny Skouen Teija Tarvo Terhi Isokuortti

The entrance hall is dominated by an impressive work of lighting art, which emphasises the accommodating reception desk and acts as a guiding and visual element.

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Photos: Aleksi Tikkala

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www.schaumanarch.fi

Schauman Architects The principal designers of the projects: Maija Viitala Nina Wester

Frank Schauman founded Schauman Architects in 1975. We have fifty professional architects, interior designers and other experts in our offices in Turku and Helsinki. The strength of our design is comprehensiveness; we can walk alongside the customer from the beginning to the end of the project. We do land use planning, consult on town planning, draw up concepts and implementation plans from shopping centres and hospitals to private homes. In Turku, we designed a restaurant in a cultural building, the house of Bassi. We were responsible for planning the renovation and improvement of the whole house. The renovation project and the Restaurant Bassi -project went hand in hand. The biggest source of inspiration was the nearly 200-year-old history of the

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building, and the goal was to restore the building’s dignity while respecting its era. For example, during the renovations, we found old stencil paintings, which were returned to their former places, and the colours found in the research of material and colour were utilised in the interior surfaces. The premises were not restored; we wanted to bring back memories and clues of the past, what had been there before, but with a fresh and modern touch. Strong contrast was applied to the extension part; the new was clearly to be new. We designed a multipurpose building for teaching and medicine on the Turku Medical Campus. The meeting place for medical development, the new building Medisiina D, combines several functions of the University of Turku, Turku University Hospital and Turku University of

Applied Sciences under one roof. The source of inspiration for the new construction was the in-house users, their work and the related medical developments. Spatially, the created concept brings out the activities of the organisations operating in the premises and creates a holistic identity for the building. The house’s interior follows the concept of architecture and space design, which is based on the development of medicine; it talks about the history, present and future. The concept laid the foundation for the material, surface and colour specifications in space design, as well as for the design and shape of spaces, wall elements, furniture, fixtures and lighting. For example, the auditorium reminds you of ancient Greece and the perforated walls of the lobby calls to mind human DNA.

The biggest source of inspiration was the nearly 200-year-old history of the building, and the goal was to restore the building’s dignity while respecting its era. 111

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www.scope.fi

Scope Design The principal designers of the project: Eeva Mankinen Jenni Koskela

Scope Design is a company focused on the design and implementation of premises. With our turnkey service, we offer the customer everything needed for a functional work environment, from design to project management and implementation. The Duetto Park office property development project in Helsinki was an inspiring project, where Scope was responsible for all project phases from concept design to implementation planning and furnishing. The goal was to improve Duetto’s competitiveness and increase its value and occupancy rate through a new property concept and space renovations. We created a new concept that exudes biophilia and well-being and brings the best aspects of green garden-like Käpylä into the everyday life of Duetto’s tenants. The new concept served as a basis for alteration work in the public lobby and entrance areas, tenant construction projects, and new marketing materials. The new property concept can also be seen in the showroom built to support the rental. Scope designed and implemented a harmonious and stylish whole for showroom space solutions and furnishings as a continuation of the lobby’s look.

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The new concept of Duetto Park expresses Scope’s human-centric design philosophy, which aims to promote well-being through spatial solutions, materials and lighting. 115

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Scope Design

Our vision for the concept was to create an inspiring respite in the middle of a busy workday with the help of spaces and atmosphere and transform Duetto into a haven for prosperous businesses and people to create new, recharge, develop and grow. In this project, we were able to implement Scope’s human-centric design philosophy that aims to promote well-being through space solutions, materials and lighting. In the main lobby, we improved the overall functionality and comfort of the space. While renovation works were kept moderate, the renewed look was created mainly with new fixtures, fittings and impressive green planting installations. The custom-made and delivered furniture made by Scope - the reception desk and the sofa-green pool element meandering between the pillars of the lobby - acts as an eye-catcher in every direction. With the new layout, the lobby is more functional for customer and freight traffic, and the space has a natural rhythm in areas of movement and rest. As the main partner, Scope was responsible for all the space and interior design of the project and worked closely with the various parties involved, ensuring that the result met the client’s needs and wishes. Our bold design vision for the lobby has been realized almost as it was initially presented, and very few compromises were made in the implementation planning. In accordance with the client’s wishes, the implementation was done with practical and budget-specific material and product choices and within the target schedule, which is one of Scope’s strengths. We produce solutions that bring about the most significant and necessary change in the space with sensible investment – this benefits all parties, including the property owner and the tenants, and highlights sustainability as one of our core values.

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www.sensoryspaces.fi

Sensory Spaces Finland The principal designers of the project: Andy Saxe-Coburg Gotha Carita Ahonen

Our design office specializes in biophilic sensory design. In short, it means design that supports a person’s innate need, benefiting everyone, not just those with special needs. The design process is influenced, among other things, by location, architecture, sensory issues, light /shadows, circadian rhythms, seasons, wind, views and experientiality. In design, we bring in nature or take the space to nature. All of our design aims to choose solutions that promote well-being and are environmentally sustainable. Joensuun Kodit commissioned sensory gardens for the new building of the supported accommodation unit that is meant for people with memory disorders. When designing for people with special needs, it is essential to understand the end user’s

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world. Inspiration for the design was provided by the atrium-shaped courtyards, the natural opportunities they offer and the users of the site, for whom we wanted to design experiences that enrich everyday life. The purpose of the sensory gardens is to actively encourage residents to seek out fresh air, regardless of the seasons, and to have experiences by nature in a safe environment according to their own abilities. The gardens have different functions, but they work together intensively as sensory spaces. The strong presence of nature is an important therapeutic tool. By subconsciously creating a sense of well-being, it improves the mental and physical well-being of the residents. A dignified old age needs a worthy space and an opportunity for experientiality.

The strong presence of nature is an important therapeutic tool. A dignified old age needs a worthy space and an opportunity for experientiality. 121

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Sensory Spaces Finland

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www.arcibella.com

Studio Arcibella The principal designer of the projects: Kristiina Michelsson

The interior design firm Studio Arcibella was founded in Helsinki by interior designer Kristiina Michelsson in 1994. Michelsson, who works as Arcibella’s CEO, has received training in Rome and Milan. She also has strong roots in Scandinavian design. Kristiina Michelsson is a third-generation representative of a well-known family of architects and the granddaughter of Finland’s national sculptor, Wäinö Aaltonen. At Studio Arcibella, we specialize in hotels, restaurants, cafés and bars. The size of our office varies from 3 to 10 designers, depending on the project. We always make long-term customized plans. Sustainable development in our work means managing the durability of the material and its long life. We do not waste natural resources or

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money in our choices. We know how to do all this thanks to our strong experience. Our goal in interior design is to gain a comprehensive result. Our design is always based on the location, surroundings and history of the site. Arcibella also designs social premises and challenging private homes. The frames of the private home in Eteläranta Helsinki in a Neo-Renaissance building were an excellent background for timeless and modern interior design. Arcibella carried out the fixture, surface and lighting design at the site together with the furniture design. The roof mouldings are the original plaster mouldings, and the light strips were hidden on top of them. All surfaces were refurbished and painted.

The frames of the private home in Eteläranta Helsinki in a Neo-Renaissance building were an excellent background for timeless and modern interior design.

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Studio Arcibella

The family, passionate about the bathroom, wanted a sauna instead of a bathtub. We designed a glass mosaic and marble sauna, which replaced the tub and fit the tub’s dimensions. The furniture and lighting suppliers were mainly Italian and French. The project, a 200-square-metre apartment, was completed in 2018. Congress and Wellness Hotel Långvik in Kirkkonummi was originally the training centre of KOP Bank. The previous owner of the site was a former President of Finland, Svinhuvud. The current owner is a foreign businessman with his family. The client’s original wish for the design was to implement a James Bond cinematic international look in which the customer would feel like they were in other parts of the world. The idea was refined to include and to consider the magnificent nature surrounding the hotel. The work was a great, holistic interior design project. The collaboration between the client and the designer worked seamlessly and fruitfully. The hotel’s old interior surface was left only on the ceiling of the restaurant area, the interior tiling of the large swimming pool and the wardrobe and desk solution of the rooms, the latter of which was renovated during the restoration in 2021. All the other surfaces of the hotel were refurbished. Spa, gym and wine cellar facilities were built in the basement storage area. The swimming pool was remodelled. The result shows the hand of our design work, which is international, respectful of space and timelessly modern.

Sustainability in our work means managing the durability of the material and its long life.

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Photo: Mikko Ala-Peijari

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Photo: Mikko Ala-Peijari

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www.tilassa.fi

Tilassa The principal designer of the projects: Harri Markkula

Our design is premised on user-centricity because more important than its external framework is that the body and mind feel well. A functional and healthy space is a whole that works both technically and visually and encourages creativity in every way. The healthiness of the facilities: light, air, acoustics, ergonomics and accessibility is more important than the external architectural values of the space. The well-being of the staff is the foundation of every company’s productivity. From this need, we developed a participatory design process called Kasvukausi®, in English Growing season. It begins even before the first draft is made and continues through the design and construction phases until the project is fully completed. The result will come as no surprise to anyone, as everyone has been involved in the project. During the Kasvukausi process, we use the participatory methods familiar from service design - we also utilised these methods in the design of the Grant Thornton office project, for example. Our designers worked as a team together with the team of the client’s organi-

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sation. In the open-plan office project of the auditing and consulting firm Revico Grant Thornton Helsinki, the chief designer’s responsibilities and tasks belonged to our company’s founder Harri Markkula, and Jannica Jahnsson was responsible for the architectural design of the project. We were also responsible for the lighting, acoustics, electricity and HPAC design of the office through our network. Revico Grant Thornton’s quality standards were above average, which can be seen not only in successful space design but also in the quality of the materials. Sustainable development is particularly visible in the quality of our design. There is no project where we would not raise issues of accessibility, adaptability of spaces and furniture, energy consumption, high-quality recyclable materials and the importance of life cycle thinking. Kasvukausi® is also based on sustainable development. When the needs of operations and operators meet in a well-planned space, the number of subsequent changes needed is reduced and money is saved.

A functional and healthy space is a whole that works both technically and visually and encourages creativity in every way.

Photos: Tommi Aittala

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www. tahti-set.com

Tähti-Set Architects The principal designers of the projects: Sanna Koivunen Tuomas Armala Toni Väisänen

The architecture office Tähti-Set originated from the design office founded by architect Jaakko Tähtinen in Tampere in 1933. Our office has been involved in construction for almost 90 years, specializing in hospital buildings’ design over the past 20 years. Our history includes many significant projects: several cultural buildings designed in Tampere along Hämeenkatu in the 1940s, Finland’s first ice rink in Hakametsä in the 1960s and, on the shores of Tammerkoski, one of Finland’s first shopping centres, Koskikeskus in the 1980s. We are involved in all of Finland’s most significant hospital design projects with our partners. In addition to this, our special expertise includes new forms of implementation such as alliance projects, open design and construction methods, and substantial information modelling expertise. One of the major milestones in our large hospital projects was the TAYS renovation program 2020, the last part of which was the completed F-building. In order to support the synergies of

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different functions, the project sought a construction site to a new building for the clinical isotope laboratory and the haematology ward from the hospital campus. The building subtly combines humanity, technical processes and functional efficiency. It is a hospital building that calmly adapts to future challenges. Despite its small size, it takes its place straightforwardly in the “hospital city” of the Tampere University Hospital Campus. The location and functions of the premises are part of a larger overall solution, where the relocation of hospital operations has sought to achieve care that is more effective for patients. The operation in F-building is also very technical with its laboratories, imaging facilities and isolation rooms. The architecture of the F-building integrates its technical treatment processes into the human environment and patients. The central theme of the building’s interior design and art is the nature of Pirkanmaa, and the sub-themes are science and research.

The building subtly combines humanity, technical processes and functional efficiency.

Photos: Anders Portman

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www.valohotel.fi / www.valowork.fi

VALO Hotel & Work The principal designers of the projects: Mikko Siltanen Minna Hurme

VALO Hotel & Work is a new kind of space and service complex that adapts to different purposes around the clock. Often offices and hotels stand empty most of the time, but multi-purpose properties make more efficient use of their facilities. VALO’s first site on Mannerheimintie in Helsinki offers an inspiring environment and human moments for both office and hotel customers. Architect Mikko Siltanen was responsible for the master planning of the building, and interior architect Minna Hurme was responsible for the space concept and interior design together with the VALO team and the designers of Workspace Ltd. VALO’s restaurant concept Bistro Elo and Bar Suo are designed by Fyra. VALO Hotel & Work combines the atmosphere of a modern city hotel and a Finnish summer cottage. Warm wooden surfaces, earthy colors and modern rooms that feel like a cottage bring a sense of

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home to the everyday life of the traveler. The main themes of the facilities are Nordic materials, nature and responsible choices. The spaces are designed to be intuitive for their users. Small, functional rooms meet the needs of different users. Although the atmosphere varies between different spaces, the whole is harmonious. All materials and furniture have the smallest possible carbon footprint. The furniture, made principally of Nordic wood, has been manufactured nearby. Several of our own furniture and solutions have been designed for VALO’s needs, for example, Tablebed combination and Woodio sinks that support the sustainability and dual use of our facilities. The story began with the opening of the first VALO in Helsinki in the autumn of 2020. Now VALO is on the way to becoming an international chain and is constantly looking for new destinations in attractive environments.

Photos: Martti Järvi

The main themes of the facilities are Nordic materials, nature and responsible choices.

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www.valoa.com

VALOA design

VALOA is a design agency specializing in architectural lighting. We design award-winning indoor and outdoor lighting for businesses and public places with 20 years of experience. Especially in the Nordic countries, the dark season is long; therefore, the look of a project must be designed to function even in a time of darkness. It is also advisable to include a professional lighting designer in the design project so that the finished site is appropriately displayed. Lighting can create distinctive and attractive spaces and cityscapes. Light is used to perceive spaces and the environment and increase the sense of security. For example, the lighting of Isoisänsilta Bridge in Helsinki was designed as part

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of the bridge’s design process, and the result is a stunning dark time view and landscape that serves as a pleasant and safe walking route even in the dark. In the design of Helsinki metro stations, the importance of lighting is emphasised because there is no natural light. We wanted to emphasise architecture, surfaces and elements by integrating light into them. We applied the principles of human-centric lighting; the lighting adapts to the daily rhythm and thus improves users’ experience. The lighting design of the unique stations has also been recognized internationally, especially for its successful integration of light: the project was the first in Finland to win the Nordic Lighting Design Award 2020. Our inter-

The principal designers of the projects: Antti Hiltunen Marko Kuusisto Olli Juutila Paulina Blomström Roope Siiroinen Tenille Seppälä Tuula Koistinen

national projects include the Wuxi Grand Theatre, where light is a significant part of the magnificent Chinese building and the architecture of the area: thousands of integrated LED lights create the possibility to transform the appearance of the building. The best result is achieved when the light is integrated into its object and architecture from the very beginning. A lighting designer knows how to create a visually and technically successful solution with light; with modern technology, almost anything is possible. Relying on experience and expertise, the lighting designer can focus on the project, creating the concept and stunning dark time look based on the architecture instead of technology. This is how light builds timeless experiences, emotions and stories.

Photo: Mikael Rantalainen

Photo: Kuvatoimisto Kuvio Oy

The best result is achieved when the light is integrated into its object and architecture from the very beginning.

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Photo: Jussi Tiainen

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Space Design gives a versatile view of Finnish interior architecture and interior architects. The book is a highquality publication in which the designers describe their work and completed projects in the form of a story. Brilliant illustrations and interesting stories give an overview of interior architects’ creative design and skills to carry out assignments with different kinds of challenges. The main focus of the book is on spatial planning and its implementation, but the furniture designed for the space also plays a prominent role. Space Design represents the overall picture of interior architecture and design in Finland today, and it also withstands international comparison well.