The Stockholm Furniture Fair 2020 was held again in February. Our designers were delighted to attend the fair, experience the top trends for the year and return to Helsinki with great new inspiration. Here are top three themes to observe for the year 2020, selected by our designers.
Colors
Pantone announced the timeless and elegant Classic Blue as the Color of the Year 2020.
The color Classic Blue was well displayed at the fair stands. In addition to the color of the year, both the exhibition stands and the furniture displayed a diverse color palette. Pastel hues were turned into more muted 70s shades and as a contrast to the muted tones, there were also deep and bright colors at the stands.
The Color of the Year ‘Classic Blue’ at Magis fair stand
Orange color tones at Magis standJohanson Design
Forms
Playfulness was a key word in the forms of furniture. Pieces of furniture were designed to have round shapes and fun details, creating relaxed overall look. Those fun curved shapes were also part of the interior at many fair stands. Edgy graphic design was featured especially on large floor and wall surfaces.
Soft and round forms of Mitab furnitureBaux combined striking geometric shapes with deep colorsJohanson Design Stroll -stoolsMagis stand
Ecology and Design
A strong theme at this year’s fair was the ecological design which reflected at the fairs stands of several manufacturer. Many products were developed from recycled materials or there were no new products released for the year 2020. In addition to recycled materials, different wood types were commonly used.
The seat material of the Houe Falk chair is made of recycled plasticNew Poiat Lavitta Barstool
Thank you for the inspiration Stockholm, we are already looking forward the next year!
Sustainable design has been embraced at Gullstén & Inkinen Design and Architecture since the foundation of the company. Last year GI celebrated its 30th birthday, so a lot has been done for the environment during the years.
GI hopes to slow down the climate change with sustainable choices and practices, and to increase the awareness of environmental issues and ecological efficiency. In 2010, we became the first design agency in the world to be admitted in the WWF Green Office Network, thanks to our long-standing commitment to sustainable practices. Even though we have recently withdrawn from the Green Office-certificate, the sustainable practices still live strong in our office. For instance, GI has bought ecological electricity which is produced with bio energy, wind power and hydropower in small local power plants, since 2011. Ekosähkö produces eco energy that is certified by the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.
GI is Finland’s first carbon neutral design agency
”For a long time, we have noticed in our work that people are more and more interested in the environmental issues. We want to enforce this trend with our work. We want to be forerunners of the industry and show how to take sustainable way of thinking into the design process and practices with our own example. We create visually and functionally sustainable spaces, prefer ecological producers and suppliers, and increase the efficiency of spaces by taking into consideration the lifecycle of materials. This way, we encourage our customers towards sustainable and ecological thinking”, summarizes Hanna Gullstén, Creative Director and one of the founders of GI.
Measurement of our carbon footprint
“During Fall 2019, we have evaluated the current carbon footprint of our agency. Most of the emissions come from our employees’ trips between their home and workplace. We have succeeded to minimize the work-related travelling by using digital communication. The carbon footprint of GI is remarkably lower than the reference value of WWF Carbon Footprint Calculator for the companies of the same size locating in the building of same age in Helsinki area. This was, however, not enough for us. We wanted more”, states Jari Inkinen, CEO of GI.
“We used Ilmastoapu Oy as an external consultant to calculate our annual carbon emissions and to give us instructions on how to compensate our carbon footprint. We decided to compensate our annual carbon emissions of 27 tonnes by supporting a Solar project in a village of Sanwreej, located in Jodhpur India. This project is run in cooperation with Gold Standard Foundation.”
Carbon neutral design
Our mission is to make our carbon handprint even bigger in the future. Carbon handprint means that, in addition to being carbon neutral ourselves, we help our clients to reduce their own carbon footprint. This is achieved by offering them even more ecological design solutions both functionally and sustainably.
In the future we will issue an Annual Carbon Statement to report the sustainability of our practices.
Solo Sokos Hotel Paviljonki received the award for Best European Luxury Modern Hotel in the World Luxury Hotel Awards gala held on 12.10.2019.
This is not the first rodeo for Solo Paviljonki. World Luxury Hotel Awards – also known as the Oscars for the hotel industry – has also awarded them in 2015 and 2017. Earlier awards include e.g. Best Finnish Luxury City Hotel, Best Northern European Design Hotel and Best Finnish Luxury Modern Hotel. This year the last mentioned award was received on the Continental level.
Gullstén-Inkinen has designed the spacious, bright and harmonious interiors of the restaurants and conference rooms of Solo Sokos Paviljonki. The goal was to create an easily approachable meeting place for the citizens and to ensure the flexibility of the breakfast area that also doubles as a private restaurant.
Hotel Paviljonki has been successful on other platforms as well. On TripAdvisor’s yearly Travellers’ Choice Top 25 -listing for 2019 they reached 8th place in the Finnish Hotels category.
Gullstén-Inkinen Design & Architecture celebrates their 30th anniversary this autumn.
In 30 years we have grown from a two-person den into a design and architecture agency of over 20 people. During this time we have also seen many projects of different shapes and sizes. We have gone from designing private homes and exhibition stands to larger spaces such as hotels, restaurants and offices for international listed companies as well as adaptive reuse of existing buildings.
We have designed a couple of million square meters of space and are gazing forwards, towards a bright future. When asked what he thinks of the company reaching the 30-year-milestone, CEO Jari Inkinen responds:
“I bet almost every Finnish adult has worked, studied, slept or at least eaten in premises we have designed. The results of our work have affected a great number of people and their daily lives. Although most of our work has been done in the Helsinki metropolitan area, our designs can be found far from our hometown Helsinki, up to Lapland, Moscow, Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm – even Singapore and Shanghai. Still, our hometown is the dearest.”
We celebrate our 30th anniversary by driving around Helsinki in a tram. On the route, we have selected 30 of our design projects from the couple of hundred projects over the years. The list includes e.g. renovation of Cafe Vanha of the Old Student House (1988), Sanoma House (1999), Burger King on the Central Railway Station (2014) and headquarters of Amer Sports in an old storehouse in Vallila, among many others. Many a fun anecdote has originated from these sites, as different kinds of adventures often take place during the consturcion before the project is completed and the customer is satisfied.
GI office has been located on Lemuntie, at a former bus body factory in Vallilan Akseli building. Today, a staff of over twenty architects, interior architects, work environment consultants and other experts in their field, work in these premises. Design projects underway include Telia’s new headquarters in Pasila’s Tripla complex, SOK’s hotel in Kupittaa, Turku, renovation of Hotel Klaus K on Bulevardi and Uusikumpu elementary school in the former Outokumpu headquarters in Espoo. On top of this, we are currently working on approx. 50 other design projects at the moment.
The renovation of the historically significant property of Mikonkatu 9 in Helsinki center has been finished in early 2019. Gullstén-Inkinen Design & Architecture was responsible for the principal and architectural design. The property is owned by insurance company Ilmarinen.
The building was designed by Jussi ja Toivo Paatela and built in 1929.
The property was originally built as a headquarters for Atlas Bank in 1929, so thorough renovation was due. The red bricks of the facade were mostly in such great condition that not much needed to be done. The interior, however, was outdated both in terms of the office spaces and technical systems. The modern-day tenants expect a lot from premises in the city center, and technology that dates back 20 years simply won’t do.
Something new, something very old…
The facade as well as part of the interior is protected under classification SR-1, which means that the building or its structures may not be changed or demolished so that their cultural historical or architectural value is compromised. Any and all renovations are to be negotiated with the museum authority.
– Together with the specialists from the Helsinki City Museum we found such design and implementation solutions that satisfy the goals of all parties, says Jari Inkinen, architect (SAFA) and interior architect (SIO). Inkinen is the principal and architectural designer of the project.
The floor was restored based on old black-and-white photos.
The renovation of the property was comprehensive. The interior structures, for example, were in most places stripped down to the concrete in order to avoid any problems with the air quality. On the other hand, auxiliary structures that had been added to the original structures at a later stage, were demolished to create more space. Parts of the street level interiors were also returned to their original glory: the dragons that were painted to protect the banking vaults as well as the floors of the old customer areas were completely restored.
– The pattern on the floors was reconstructed based on old black-and-white photos, Inkinen recounts. The colors were interpreted from small remaining fragments, and the new floor tiles were cut and glued on based on the photos. The glass ceiling of the old courtyard was demolished and was replaced by a new copper roof. The frame of the glass roof was left in place and artificial lights were installed inside the glass to recreate the ambiance of a glass roof.
Artificial lighting was installed behind the glass in the roof in order to recreate the ambiance of a glass roof.The dragons, that were originally painted in the roof to protect the banking vaults, were restored during the renovation.
Flexibility and adjustability first
The main tenant of the eight-story-building is Epicenter Helsinki, who has been involved in the renovation project since the beginning. Epicenter provides flexible co-working spaces, innovation laboratories and event management, and the synergies of its subtenants are at the core of their operations. With this in mind, a lot is required from the design of the office space in the building: they need to be able to accommodate different sizes of companies in different stages of their life cycle.
There were also comprehensive changes in the common areas in the first and second floors of the building. A loft structure was built in the old banking hall, so that smaller spaces could be added on the second floor. By moving the transferable walls, the lower levels can be arranged into a two-storied auditorium for 200 people.
An auditorium for 200 people can be achieved by moving the transferable walls.
With the mobility of the employees in mind, a new stairway was added in the middle of the building, in addition to the two existing ones. This made the distribution of space more flexible in the upper floors – the offices in each floor can be rented out to five tenants instead of two. The commuters with bicycles were also taken into consideration by building washing facilities and bicycle parking, complete with a bicycle elevator, on the basement level.
The original ceilings of the building are absolutely beautiful.An auxiliary roof structure was demolished from the hallway to create the sense of light and space.
This beautiful detail is from one of the doors.The red bricks of the facade were so well-preserved that not much needed to be done with them.
Gullstén-Inkinen Design & Architecture is a creative design agency with experience and vision. We design solutions that have a small carbon footprint and a big heart.
Our team consists of architects, interior architects, graphic designers, workplace consultants, service designers and project engineers. Our design projects cover adaptive reuse of buildings, working environments, commercial facilities, showrooms, restaurants, hotels and learning environments.
Väinämöisenlinna located in the corner of Aleksanterinkatu and Mikonkatu is one of the best-known Jugend-style buildings in Helsinki. Some high-quality premises have been modernized for law firm White & Case on the fifth and sixth floors of this listed property. The design objective was to create elegant offices and meeting rooms that pay respect to the original style of the building and form an impressive setting for the firm’s art collection. One of the biggest technical challenges was to implement effective soundproofing in the more than 100-year-old stone “castle”. Gullstén-Inkinen provided architectural and interior design for this demanding project.
Photo: Ilmarinen
Street musicians play a merry melody for the passers-by in the middle of Mikonkatu. On the fifth floor of the nearby building, a lawyer is making a lengthy conference call to the States. Thanks to effective soundproofing, the musicians, the trams or any other noise from the street does not disturb work in the offices.
Mikonkatu and Aleksanterinkatu form the busiest commercial quarter in Helsinki. The location is dominated by revamped Väinämöisenlinna, a robust and for some parts playful pioneer work for Finnish national revival, the facade and interiors of which were designed by Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren and Eliel Saarinen. Its facade material was chosen by the three architects: natural stone from Finland, meaning local granite and soapstone from Nunnalahti. Outer walls feature faces of trolls and characters of the national epic, Kalevala, grinning to people on the street. Completed in 1901, the building is also known as the Pohjola House, as it was originally built by and for fire insurance company Pohjola.
The stairwells of the building are listed for conservation.
Väinämöisenlinna is classified SR-1, an architecturally, culturally and historically valuable building. Its listed features include the facade, the stairwells, and the fixed decor of the National Hall on the second floor. Originally the building included apartments, too, but nowadays it is completely dedicated to retail and office use. The property is owned by Mutual Pension Insurance Company Ilmarinen.
Law firm White & Case is one of the newest tenants in the building.
“We were looking for new premises for quite a while. Our objective was to find a valued property in the city centre which would allow us to build modern premises that match our operations. Väinämöisenlinna met both of these requirements. An amusing coincidence is that our company was founded in 1901, the same year the building was completed,” says Timo Airisto, partner at White & Case Finland.
The offices of 1,400 square metres on the fifth and sixth floors of the building were designed and renovated in 2017–2018 to meet the needs of the law firm. Old structures were demolished and new premises were re-built on top of the “skeleton” of the building. At the same time, the entire property was updated in terms of building services systems and interiors.
Gullstén-Inkinen provided architectural and interior design for White & Case.
“We wanted help from an experienced architects’ office who were able to provide both architectural and interior design services. We also wanted to find a provider that was ‘the right size’ for us, one that would approach the assignment with vigour and sufficient resources to carry it through. We evaluated different offices based on references and interviews, and Gullstén-Inkinen was our unanimous choice,” Airisto says.
A clear vision guided the design of the premises
White & Case Finland belongs to one of the largest law firms in the world. Its head office is in the United States. Work at White & Case includes plenty of international phone conferences.
This was one of the prerequisites for the design of the premises.
The firm needed high quality office rooms with effective soundproofing. They also needed a well-equipped meeting centre apart from the offices.
”Separate office rooms were an obvious prerequisite. When one works by phone to the other side of the world, private office room is the best place to do the work. The phone line may be bad. Confidential documents need to be at hand. Open-plan office does not function in these type of situations,” says Jari Inkinen, who was in charge of the architectural design.
Another obvious requirement was that any noise from outside the office cannot be heard inside, and no sound can carry from one room to another.
High expectations for soundproofing created a technical challenge for the design team.
”Considering that the house was built in early 1900, it is likely to be resounding in all directions. We needed to remove plaster from the interior walls all the way to the brick and isolate the structures.”
How does one introduce modern technical systems into a 100-year-old building?
“With a shoehorn,” Inkinen remarks. “A house of this age has not been prepared for any kind of modern technology. We had to fit all technology between upper floor and ceiling. This solution is bound to lower the ceiling and requires various auxiliary structures. Then again, we were able to open up the premises by taking down the existing room divisions and interior walls. As a result, the premises now offer completely modern features while the original character of the building remains recognizable.”
Some of the original ceiling height is apparent in the reception lobby. Interior walls were taking down in the middle, and only the load-bearing column remains. It has been designed wedgelike in order to match harmonious decor. In the background, one can admire “Camp Village,” an artwork by Kari Cavén”.
Glass-walled office rooms
Office room division was adjusted to match the original window openings of the building.
Glass walls with black metal profiles separate the offices from the aisles. The walls between office rooms are partially of glass, too.
“This way, people are able to see each other even if everybody has their own work room. Another benefit with the glass walls is that they allow maximum flow of natural light to the aisle in the middle, as the building is very deep,” says Hanna Gullstén, who was in charge of the interior design.
A new staircase was built between the two floors occupied by White & Case. The design was submitted for approval to the Helsinki City Museum.
The black leather handrail of the interior staircase matches the black leather furniture. The stairs are lit from below the steps.
An impressive setting for an art collection
White & Case’s extensive art collection was one of the baselines for the interior design. Gullstén-Inkinen’s task was to decide how to display the works in the new premises.
“White & Case owns many works by Kari Cavén, for example. We decided which of them should fit the reception area and which can be placed in the meeting rooms. For the lounge area, we suggested more colourful items. The staff was given the opportunity to choose the artwork for their rooms. We were also given the task to visit Gallery Anhava and choose a new work by Kari Cavén for the reception lobby. We picked out “Camp Village” that suits the space perfectly. It was great that the client trusted our vision. Art adds colour and vivacity to the harmonious decor,” says Hanna Gullstén.
Meeting rooms display Kari Cavén’s works.Meeting centre lobby presents Kari Cavén’s “The Gravity of Earth”. There is a movable table for catering in the middle.A bit more colour was placed in the staff’s lounge area. The turquoise colour originates from the White & Case brand identity. On the walls, a series of works by Lars-Gunnar Nordström.
The table in the largest meeting room consists of height-adjustable mid part and foldable tables around it. When necessary, the mid part can be used as a buffet table for company events.The restrooms represent quality in every detail.Reception lobby corner windows provide a view to both Mikonkatu and Aleksanterinkatu.
White & Cased moved to its new premises in the spring of 2018. According to Timo Airisto of White & Case, the offices serve their purpose to perfection.
“The objectives we set for the premises have been achieved. Our staff really enjoy the quarters and so do our customers.”
Airisto thanks Gullstén-Inkinen for successful cooperation.
“Our cooperation with Gullstén-Inkinen went really well. In the beginning of the project, we went through many discussions about the objectives and our company culture. The architects understood our views and proposed modern, customized solutions,” Airisto recalls.
Text: Minna Helkiö Photos: Aukusti Heinonen
Gullstén-Inkinen Design & Architecture is a creative design agency with experience and vision. Our solutions have a small carbon footprint and a big heart.
Our team consists of architects, interior architects, graphic designers, workplace consultants, service designers and project engineers. Our design projects cover adaptive reuse of buildings, working environments, commercial facilities, showrooms, restaurants, hotels and learning environments.
Last spring Technopolis opened a new UMA Coworking space in the heart of Stockholm. In September, UMA Vestergade was opened in Copenhagen, and at the end of this year, the network will expand to Oslo and to the Kalasatama district in Helsinki. Private offices, meeting rooms, shared workstations and versatile services are all available in this working environment that suits both small companies and large enterprises’ mobile workforce, as well as start-ups that appreciate easily adjustable premises. Created in cooperation with Gullstén-Inkinen, this office concept combines flexibility to comfort and Nordic design. Coworking environments are rapidly becoming more and more popular.
UMA is short for Human Workspace. It is a network of coworking spaces created by Technopolis, and it’s growing fast. The flagship UMA Esplanadi was opened in the centre of Helsinki, upstairs of the Academic Bookstore, in 2016. Due to great demand, this complex has already been enlarged.
Before the end of 2020, Technopolis aims to open 20 new UMA spaces in the largest cities of the Nordic countries and the Baltic Sea region.
Coworking spaces are a trend that is growing fast. Technopolis thinks this is due to more agile business solutions that companies need in order to succeed. At the same time, they need to attract the most talented employees, which increases the importance of top-class premises in a central location.
Location is everything in the UMA Workspace concept. Like UMA Esplanadi in Helsinki, the new UMA Kungsbron in Stockholm, opened last April, is very centrally located, it’s just next to the Cityterminal and Arlanda Express station. This first UMA of Stockholm is 2,350 square meters in size. It includes 53 small offices, 90 shared workstations and seven meeting rooms.
Opened in September, UMA Vestergade, the first UMA of Copenhagen, is also located in the city centre, next to the main shopping street Strøget and the City Hall.
In December 2018, two more UMAs will be opened: UMA Oslo City in downtown Oslo and UMA Teurastamo, in the growing district of Kalasatama, Helsinki.
Premises designed in the spirit of the building
Gullstén-Inkinen has designed the UMA Workspaces in Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo.
“The idea was to create an adjustable and clearly recognizable space concept that flexibly suits many different ways of working while also representing Nordic design,” says interior architect Mira Hölttä of Gullstén-Inkinen.
Each project takes into account the spirit of the original building.
“UMA Kungsbron is very modern in scope, while UMA Vestergade in Copenhagen is housed in a 300-year-old building. These properties are completely different considering their layout and atmosphere. The colors and materials are chosen in the spirit of the original buildings. All offices also reflect the recognizable elements of the UMA brand.”
Attractive entrance
In each UMA Workspace, the reception lobby is made attractive and welcoming following the UMA concept.
“UMA Kungsbron in Stockholm features large windows that many people pass on their daily commute. We want the entrance to look interesting and inviting and to say that there’s a lot going on inside,” says Mira Hölttä.
The lobby has been divided into two separate areas by copper carpeting. There’s an aisle in the middle that leads further inside towards the reception desk and the information screens on a mirror wall. The ceiling is black with a wood grating to create a homely look and visually tie the lobby together.
Working environments for large and small companies
The premises have been designed so that their functions apply to companies of various sizes and different ways of working. Employees telecommuting to large companies can use the workspaces to expand their offices and utilize the meeting rooms of various sizes.
Small companies can lease furnished offices for 4 to 6 persons for their own use.
The open working community is an essential part of the UMA concept.
“The open working area is a space for members to enter with their laptops and choose a place that suits their ongoing task or mood. There are many options to choose from. It is easy to modify the space into something else if necessary. The fact that all furniture fits together adds flexibility.”
Each UMA workspace also includes branded space concepts. UMA Coffee is an open lounge where members can enjoy high-quality coffee while working and exchanging ideas.
UMA Event Venue is designed for organizing events. The UMA membership includes weekly breakfast and after-work events.
The guiding principle of the concept is to help people focus on their work while enjoying the surrounding community.
The popularity of coworking spaces indicates a larger change in work culture and ways of working.
“Work culture is clearly becoming more open and social. Instead of a basic office space, people now want others in the same space to be able to exchange ideas during work. First and foremost, work space is now approached from the employee’s point of view. Office interiors are moving towards a more homely direction, too. Natural materials are preferred because they are attractive to people and create a pleasant atmosphere. Subconsciously they transmit the feel of nature and forest and therefore have a calming effect,” Mira Hölttä concludes.
Text: Minna Helkiö Photos: Olof Ringmar
UMA Workspace is Technopolis’ network of coworking spaces. UMA offers shared workspace and service solutions for small and large companies in central locations in the Nordic and Baltic Sea region. www.umaworkspace.com
Gullstén-Inkinen Design & Architecture is the largest design agency in the Nordic countries specializing in architectural and interior design and real estate renovation. Our award-winning agency provides individualized, cost-efficient and sustainable design solutions for offices, hotels, restaurants, public spaces and real estate renovation projects.
We also offer top-quality workplace development services for businesses and organizations looking to foster a better work culture, improve internal communications or boost overall employee productivity.
The University of Helsinki and the Helsinki University Hospital HUS ached for a new space concept to cater to the needs of various health and life science community members. This is how Terkko Health Hub was born: it’s an innovation and education centre to promote research and business in the fields of medicine, healthtech and life sciences under one roof with the medical faculty library. For this purpose Gullstén-Inkinen designed interior solutions that support the concept of co-working.
How can a library better serve its customers in the digital world?
This is what librarians around the world are working on. Public, university and national libraries are all facing the same challenge: printed materials are being reduced, digital collections expand, and the ways in which we use information are changing. These changes challenge libraries to renew their service concepts.
The conceptual development of the Meilahti campus library in Helsinki started a couple of years ago as the library’s print collections faced reductions. Located in the heart of Helsinki’s medical campus, the library provides for the medical students, faculty staff, researchers, doctors, the HUS hospital staff, healthcare professionals as well as many companies in the field. It encompasses the largest collection in health and life sciences in Finland. Previously known as the Central Library of Health Sciences, the building was completed in the corner of Haartmaninkatu and Tukholmankatu in 1998.
“This library has a central location on campus, and it functions as a kind of gate when entering the hospital area,” says architect Outi Saario representing the University of Helsinki property management department.
However, the use of the library had changed since its designed purpose in the 1990s. The materials and their uses have changed.
“Medical information has become digital. Medical science develops in leaps and bounds, and there is a flow of new information available. For the library’s operations, this means that printed collections require less space than before. The users of the library find digital collections available for doctors and researchers outside the library, too. It is not necessary to physically enter the library building,” Saario notes.
The library turned out to occupy two floors in a great location for just archiving written materials. The Medical Faculty of the University of Helsinki and HUS, together with the library, wanted to renew the ways in which the premises were used. They wanted to bring in new customers and life.
In practice, the renovation started after the library reduced its collections to free the entire ground floor for other use.
Co-working benchmarking in the USA
The representatives of the University of Helsinki went to the US to find examples of their desired concept. They visited several different co-working spaces in Boston. They also visited MIT and different centres that support science as a business.
“The visits convinced us of the possibility to provide co-working space in the library which would serve both the University departments, students and HUS as well as the health science companies. Architect Jarmo Suominen designed the basic idea for the concept,” Saario says.
A shared space for various user groups
This was the setting for Gullstén-Inkinen to design premises that support co-working. The idea was to place all of the collections, the customer service desks and the reading rooms for the students on the second floor of the building. The new service concept, Terkko Health Hub, was to take place on the ground floor.
Another baseline was to utilize the existing furniture of the library and the University. Outi Saario was happy with Gullstén-Inkinen’s initial design ideas.
“Gullstén-Inkinen contributed additional value to our brainstorming and helped solve the co-working space challenge. We had no practical guideline about its implementation to begin with, but they were able to apply Jarmo Suominen’s basic idea and decide what was needed here. They were also able to utilize the existing furniture in a very refreshing manner.”
Encounters and events
The renovation took place in the spring of 2017. Now there is space for health and life sciences and medical start-ups in the old office wing of the library.
There’s an open space that includes several working areas aka “Neighbourhoods” separated with furniture and carpeting. The neighbourhoods can be booked in advance.
It was not possible to build floor-to-ceiling partition walls, and therefore a lighter solution was needed. Extra bookshelves from the library now function as partition elements. The shelves have been filled with extra books from the library, and the books organized according to their appearance and colour. The shelves are backed with acoustic panels made of peat as well as note boards. The shelves also work as wardrobe space for the customers using the neighbourhoods.
In addition, it was important to provide open-access areas to support exchange of ideas, networking and events. There is a large lounge-type space, an event square, a cafe area and a green turf with hammocks for this purpose.
Outi Saario thinks the resulting hub works really well. Library users have found their way to the new facilities, and there’s a healthy demand for the business premises. The lounge is nearly always full of people, and the hammocks are popular as seats.
Feedback is constantly being gathered from the users of the renewed library. The idea is for all age groups to be able to use the premises as they like for their own purposes.
“I believe the co-working trend will continue. We are closely following how this space is being used, and we’ll develop the concept further together with the users and Gullstén-Inkinen’s designers. We’re really happy with Gullstén-Inkinen’s passion towards this project and the new ideas they’ve contributed,” Saario says.
“The new ways of using libraries are changing the services and concepts everywhere. There’s also discussion about the changing soundscape of libraries. At the moment, libraries struggle to provide both silent space and human encounters and events. Acoustic solutions play an important role in making the concept work. Next year, we’re particularly keen to see what kind of a meeting place the new Helsinki Central Library will become,” Saario notes.
Text: Minna Helkiö Photos: Aukusti Heinonen
Gullstén-Inkinen Design & Architecture is the largest design agency in the Nordic countries specializing in architectural and interior design and real estate renovation. Our award-winning agency provides individualized, cost-efficient and sustainable design solutions for offices, hotels, restaurants, public spaces and real estate renovation projects.
We also offer top-quality workplace development services for businesses and organizations looking to foster a better work culture, improve internal communications or boost overall employee productivity.
Architects Gullstén-Inkinen helped revamp a traditional manor estate owned by a Finnish company in Espoo, Finland. Gullstén-Inkinen was responsible for the architectural and interior design of the property. The main house, completed in the end of 1920s and its sauna cabins received a new lighter, more cozy look. The objective of the main building’s interior design was to create a mood reminiscent of a lovely summer day in 1952, the year when the Olympic Games were held in Helsinki.
There’s a beautiful sun room that welcomes visitors to the main house built in the end of 1920s. Large windows facing three directions create an extremely well-lit entrance. Stepping further, the visitor finds a view to the dining room located in a sun room on the opposite side of the house. This room also features tall windows facing three directions that let plenty of sunlight into the building.
Latest renovation emphasizes the luminosity and lightness of the manor. This particular project included the main house of the estate. A few years earlier, the two log-cabin saunas by the lake went through complete renovation.
Now the manor owned by a Finnish company is again ready to receive guests, to house meetings and dinners and to provide traditional bathing in the sauna cabins.
A well-lit entrance welcomes the visitor.The entrance provides a view to the dining room. The manor houses an art collection now on display.The appearance of the dining room that seats 16 persons was lightened and streamlined. Y chairs replace the old black leather chairs. A display cabinet presents the company’s monogrammed crystalware from decades ago.
Back to the days of the Olympic Games
Architects Gullstén-Inkinen were responsible for the architectural and interior design as well as the project management and procurements of the renovation. Thirty years had passed since the previous renovation of the manor, and its interior was wearing off. Entertaining functionality was another dimension that needed improvement.
“It was the client’s wish to make the manor a cozy place to stay. Although we’re talking about a space for executive entertainment, the house itself is kindly and modestly sizes. Coziness fits the frame of the house,” says Hanna Gullstén.
What period should the interior design style represent?
“We pondered about this for a long while. The manor carries a long history, and there were several layers to choose from. We liked the idea of a bourgeois home in the days of the Olympic Games in 1952. All items have been selected to reflect the spirit of that time. Because of the tight schedule, we didn’t have time to look for antique furniture, so the mood was created with new furniture representing the period. We preferred Finnish and Nordic products. The original pieces of furniture in the house were repaired, and the art and tableware available were put on display,” Hanna Gullstén explains.
The colouring matches the fireplace and the art collection
The hall downstairs functions as a salon for after-dinner coffee. It includes an original fireplace that provided a base for the colour selections. The manor’s art collection also helped pick the right colours.
“There was plenty of beautiful art available in the manor. The client was pleased that we were able to place all of it in the interior. For example, a work that features a keyboard was placed on top of the piano in the hall. We chose many of the textiles based on the tones of the artwork,” says Hanna Gullstén.
The colours in the hall were matched with the fireplace, the art and the existing furniture. An original sofa set was restored and upholstered. A table from the 1930s includes several secret drawers and bottle-holders.The idea was to make the house look like it was recently inhabited. Somebody has “forgotten” their spectacles on a stack of books.A Berber rug in the style of Villa Mairea creates consistency in the large space.Eliel Saarinen’s Cranbrook dining set dominates the upstairs of the manor. The colours of the original tiled stove inspired the tones of the walls and the armchairs. Old objects from the company’s collections have been placed on Artek’s shelves.The meeting room for eight upstairs was styled modern in terms of appearance and artwork selection.The terrace above the dining room provides a great view towards the lake.
Women and men’s sauna cabins have been restored from top to bottom
The manor includes two log-cabin saunas by the lake. One of them was renovated in the spring of 2010 and the other in 2017.
“The renovation project of the manor estate started in 2010, and its first part was the so called ladies’ sauna. The objective was to create a stylish yet cozy sauna space for entertaining guests. We wanted to create a modern, well-lit and feminine space,” Hanna Gullstén says.
The original look of the building including the roof and cladding remained nearly the same, but the building frame and interiors were almost completely renewed. During the renovation, it was observed that the sauna had been built in several phases and that its oldest part used to be a smoke sauna.
The idea was to install light wood paneling in the dressing room.
The men’s sauna, which represented 1950s architecture, was lastly renovated including a major structural update to improve its functionality.
“The only entrance to the sauna was on the lake side. We wanted an entrance on the other side, too. The solution was to remove a technical facility that was no longer needed. An extra door was cut into the log wall to add a kitchen and a toilet. The change enabled a new route to enter the sauna from the main house.”
The foundation of the men’s sauna was restored, and the waste water and heating systems were modernized. An old grass roof was completely rebuilt, and a major renewal took place indoors. The logs in the walls were mainly in a good condition, so they were just cleaned.
There is no separate dressing room in this sauna but a combined sitting and dressing room. A long sofa was designed and placed against two of the walls. The walls include wooden hooks to hang clothes. “The hooks are fun elements on the wall and remain neutral when no clothes are hanging.”
The steam room has a fine old wood-burning sauna stove, and the benches were renewed with the help of highly skilled carpenters.
Bringing modern technology into an old building in style was a special challenge. The electricity lines are embedded under wide furring strips around the rooms and the doors. The space is now suitable also for having meetings.
An extra door was cut into the log wall to add a kitchen and a toilet.
Text: Minna Helkiö Photos: Aukusti Heinonen
Gullstén-Inkinen Design & Architecture is the largest design agency in the Nordic countries specializing in architectural and interior design and real estate renovation. Our award-winning agency provides individualized, cost-efficient and sustainable design solutions for offices, hotels, restaurants, public spaces and real estate renovation projects.
We also offer top-quality workplace development services for businesses and organizations looking to foster a better work culture, improve internal communications or boost overall employee productivity.
Interior architects Gullstén & Inkinen carried out the head design, architectural design and interior design of the Malmi, Ylöjärvi and Joensuu office renovations for the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA). The purpose of the projects was to create more work space for the growing personnel of Kela and to support flexibility and increase comfort at work. An increasing number of the Kela personnel now work in activity-based offices.
Turquoise and orange. Plenty of transparency. The feeling of quality. New and tidy.
This is how the revamped Kela offices in Malmi appear.
In addition to the visual appearance, the premises encompass completely new functionality. Previously about twenty people worked in individual rooms on the third floor of the Malmi offices; now after the renovation the whole floor is an activity-based office that includes 56 work stations. The employees sit in groups of 8 to 12 persons in an open office. They share the meeting rooms, withdrawal booths and a large working lounge that also serves as a cafe, break room and team meeting room.
Team manager Eva Forsell considers the renovation a success. She says that moving over into activity-based offices has increased interaction among the staff and created a sense of communality.
“We now all sit together in the new offices. There’s always a colleague nearby to ask for advice. Our work is often quite lonely, but in a space like this, we never feel alone. Another positive trait is that people learn to know each other in a completely different way. The working community becomes more tight-knit.”
The new premises for Kela were completed in the end of 2016.
The primary purpose of the renovation was to create more working space. In the beginning of 2017, the national income support services were transferred from the municipalities to be handled by Kela, and this brought many new people to work in Malmi as well as many other Kela offices.
Flexibility at work impacts the need for space
The Kela service network consists of 180 offices around Finland. They are cared for by Kela’s property services.
“We aim to provide the Kela personnel with quality offices that are comfortable and well proportioned. The ways of working are changing, and the premises must conform to that change,” says architect Pentti Nurminen from Kela’s property services.
“The income support services and other regulatory changes impact the volume of Kela personnel and thereby the space needed. Overall, working at Kela has become more flexible. Many tasks are not tied to a certain place anymore. Work can be done at home or in another office. All this impacts how much space is needed.”
According to Nurminen the renovation requirements are always considered per location. The general condition of the premises adds pressure to the process.
“Kela owns many properties built in the 1980s and 1990s. They typically house building services technology that requires updating. Many locations include solutions that are now out-of-date and can be utilized for a new purpose. For example, paper documents require much less storage space than before. Some old properties still have ‘letter lifts’ between the floors. They haven’t been in use for a long time,” Nurminen notes.
Users engaged in the design
Gullstén-Inkinen was in charge of the spatial design of the Kela offices in Malmi, Ylöjärvi and Joensuu. All three are now activity-based offices.
The design was carried out in two phases. In the first phase consisted of testing, the Gullstén-Inkinen design team providing a proposal for the future layout, including the number of work stations and supporting units. In the implementation phase, they chose the materials and designed the visual appearance. User needs were surveyed with a questionnaire about the work environment and by active communications and staff engagement.
Team manager Eva Forsell of the Malmi offices congratulates Gullstén-Inkinen for this.
“Moving from separate rooms to an activity-based office has been a huge change. It’s not only about the premises but a change in our working culture. We appreciate being included in the design and influencing matters that concern our work. We felt that they really listened to us,” she says.
“Working with the Gullstén-Inkinen designers was fluent. They were active, brought up valuable points and listened to us. We all worked towards a common goal: having everything ready by 15 November 2016. And we succeeded in this,” confirms Forsell.
Text: Minna Helkiö
Photos: Sami Saastamoinen
Gullstén-Inkinen Design & Architecture is the largest design agency in the Nordic countries specializing in architectural and interior design and real estate renovation. Our award-winning agency provides individualized, cost-efficient and sustainable design solutions for offices, hotels, restaurants, public spaces and real estate renovation projects.
We also offer top-quality workplace development services for businesses and organizations looking to foster a better work culture, improve internal communications or boost overall employee productivity.
