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BANKEN UND BEHÖRDEN • BANKS AND AUTHORITY BUILDINGS INNERE WERTE • INNER VALUES

Details der Original-Handläufe der Treppe • Details of the original staircase handrails Wohnlich-informell: Fensterplätze mit Aussicht • Cosy-informal: window seats with a view

C ompleted in 1963, the building on the Katajanokka peninsula, in the centre of Hel- DLA Piper on the second and third floors. The global law firm was also the first tenant.
The design of the offices was a balancing act. On the one hand, the architectural
sinki with its white, cassette-like façade belongs to the late work of architect Alvar

Aalto (1898 –1976). The name “sugar cube” is no coincidence. For the rectangular structure heritage had to be respected and preserved while, on the other hand, contemporary
is clad in white Carrara marble, like Aalto’s Finlandia Hall (1971) later on. The three- workstations had to be designed that reflected the full spectrum of a modern, varied
dimensional, crystalline effect of the façade is achieved through slanted reveals in which office environment. Fyra therefore worked closely with Ark-Byroo, the heritage agency
deep wooden window frames sit. This building, which stands prominently at the harbour, and the Alvar Aalto Foundation. The office is now a cosmos of individual workstations
appears unusually rational in the œuvre of the Finnish master builder celebrated for his for concentrated work, group- and meeting rooms, quiet places to make phone calls
organic architecture. The interior of the 8,000-square-metre building, on the other hand, and calm zones on two floors and around 1,800 square metres. There is a webinar
was conceived, designed and modelled in the usual Aalto manner down to the smallest room and a library. The large, semi-public lounge in the western corner of the building
detail. This complete work of art has been a listed building since 2010. is open to both staff and clientele. The rooms are welcoming, warm and homely, but
confidence-inspiring and professional, clearly less formal and stiff than one would
New era: commercial tenants move into the „sugar cube“ expect from conservative law firms. DLA Piper in Helsinki is contemporary and tailo-
red to individual user needs, as has been the case with Fyra projects since 2010. The
Some 60 years after it was built, the six-storey office building with its recessed attic top floor with roof terrace is to be transformed into a public restaurant. Previously,
and equally recessed, portico-like entrance area is being put to new use for the first this was the location of Stora Enso’s company canteen. This means that architecture
time, as it is being rented out floor by floor. For this purpose, the architectural icon lovers will now also be allowed access. Up to now, the office building could only
was revitalized by Ark-Byroo. The architectural firm from Helsinki is responsible for be viewed from the outside. The large, elegant rooms with their bands of windows
the overall concept and every single measure of the new use. And these interventions and the white “railing” of the roof terrace are reminiscent of an ocean liner. From up
were carried out in a minimally invasive manner, so to speak. Original components, there, a fantastic view of a recent architectural highlight opens up. Directly in front
such as the leather wall, wooden panels, grids, staircase, lights and other details of the sugar cube is the Allas Sea Pool with sauna, completed in 2017 by Huttunen-
which, with their high-quality materiality of brass, wood and marble, make up the Lipasti Architects, which is embedded in the sea and also open in winter, celebrating
flair of the rooms, were preserved. Fyra was commissioned to design the offices for Helsinki’s exceptional leisure qualities. A super location, also for a law firm.

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