Scan Magazine | Architect of the Month | Finland
Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre.
Architect of the Month, Finland
Creating uplifting experiences PES-Architects is one of the leading architectural design firms in Finland. Their innovative, sustainable and ambitious projects in Finland and China include transport, culture and commercial buildings. From airport terminals to opera houses and skyscrapers, the firm’s determination continually takes them to new heights.
have extended our operations there significantly, due to the endless potential, especially for cultural and commercial buildings,” Silvennoinen says.
By Ndéla Faye | Photos: PES-Architects
In addition to these, the firm’s notable building designs in China include the sculptural Icon YunDuan tower in Chengdu, the ambitious Wuxi Grand Theatre, and the Fuzhou Strait Culture and Art Centre, located in Mawei New Town, by the Minjiang River. The building, designed by professor Pekka Salminen, founder of PES-Architects, is shaped in the form of the petals of a jasmine blossom, the city flower of Fuzhou, and includes an opera house, concert hall, multi-functional theatre, art exhibition hall, as well as a cinema centre. “It connects cities and communities along and over the Taiwan Strait. It also connects the Fuzhou New City Development and its waterways to the
Founded in 1968, PES-Architects’ continued success for the past 50 years is evident. This spring, the company held an exhibition at the Museum of Finnish Architecture to mark the occasion. Their repertoire is extensive: from complex public buildings such as theatres, airport and railway terminals to sport facilities, retail developments and office buildings. In addition to all of this, the company also specialises in interior design and urban planning, as well as refurbishment projects. Operating mainly in Finland and China, the company has also carried out pro110 | Issue 116 | September 2018
jects in the Gulf region, Germany and in Russia. “Part of our strength lies in our diverse and international design team of 70 employees, representing over ten different nationalities,” says Tuomas Silvennoinen, partner and chief architect at PES-Architects.
Endless potential and ambitious projects One of PES-Architects’ specialities is designing cultural buildings, including a number of theatres and opera houses in China. “We’ve been working in China since 2003, and opened our Shanghai office in 2010. In the last 15 years, we