PRESS RELEASE 13 August 2015
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Finlandia Prize for Architecture 2015 winner to be selected by composer Kaija Saariaho
The finalists are Kangasala House, Merenkulkijanranta residential area, OKOBANK office block,
Opinmäki School and the timber-framed Puukuokka multi-storey residential building
The Finlandia Prize for Architecture will be awarded by the Finnish Association of Architects SAFA in 2015
for the second time. The five finalists shortlisted by the pre-selection jury are: the Kangasala House
cultural centre in Kangasala; the residential high-rise buildings at Merenkulkijanranta; the Opinmäki
School in Espoo; the new OKOBANK office block in Helsinki; and the timber-framed Puukuokka high-rise
residential building in Jyväskylä. The winner will be chosen by Kaija Saariaho, a Finnish composer of
international renown, and will be announced at the awards ceremony to be held in Helsinki on 23
September 2015.
Kaija Saariaho: architecture shapes our life on a daily basis
This year, the organisers wanted to have the winner selected by a person of
solid cultural merits who had made her name in a field other than architecture.
Kaija Saariaho is one of Finland’s best known composers of contemporary music
who has toured concert halls across the world.
"I’ve always taken a keen interest in architecture and of course concert halls.
When visiting the buildings now proposed for the prize, I gave much thought to
how deeply architecture affects our lives on a daily basis," says Saariaho.
"What I found attractive about the OKOBANK block,” continues Saariaho assessing the finalists, “was that
all the sites and services needed by the employees in the course of the day were found under the same
glass roof that links up all the buildings in the complex. The timber-framed Puukuokka high-rise building
appealed to me because of the soft and cosy acoustics that could sensed even on the staircase and the
intimate atmosphere of the dwellings. The Merenkulkijanranta residential block combines a dreamy,
beautiful seafront view with a sense of community. The Kangasala House made a strong impression by its
highly adaptable auditorium, versatility and stately exterior. The Opinmäki School is an interesting and
open concept with its glass walls conducive to close interaction between classrooms.”
Finalists represent housing, work and culture
According to Jorma Mukala, the chair of the pre-selection jury, the shortlisted candidates represent highquality visionary architecture.
"The list of finalists is diverse including an office block as well as public and multi-storey residential
buildings. The sites range from compact urban environs to a suburb and a complete new housing district. In
the same vein, the designers represent several generations – from those entering the profession in the
1960s to the architects of the 2000s.”
Standing next to a stone church, Kangasala House nicely rounds off the town’s centre. In the view of the
pre-selection jury, this cultural centre completed in 2015 is fresh and innovative in combining various
functions: a multipurpose auditorium, art museum, and the chambers of the municipal council and board.
Inside, this stately concrete edifice divides into well-lit meandering ’canyons’ created by the light-coloured
lobby spaces. The building is designed by Heikkinen-Komonen Architects.
PRESS RELEASE 13 August 2015
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The Merenkulkijanranta block sits on a seafront plot at the intersection of nature and urbanity in
Lauttasaari, Helsinki. Construction has been carried out in several stages since 2008, with the last building
completed in 2015. According to the pre-selection jury, the buildings reach out over the sea like the fingers
of a hand. Under the buildings runs a public footpath – underlining the Finnish tradition of reserving the
shoreline for public use. The block is designed by Arkkitehdit NRT Oy.
Kangasala House
Merenkulkijanranta
The OP House puts the finishing touch to a large urban block in the Vallila
district, Helsinki. According to the pre-selection jury, the triangular openings or
‘cracks’ give a nice rhythm to the large volume of mass. At the centre of the
block there is a high, well-lit space comprising conference rooms, restaurants,
cafés and wellbeing services. The working environment is characterized by
light and a sense of a unique experience. A diversity of historical layers adds a
complementary touch to the complex. The house, completed in 2015, is
designed by JKMM Architects.
The Opinmäki School in Espoo is a central public building in Suurpelto, a new
residential development still under construction. The building houses a
daycare centre, an upper-level and lower-level comprehensive school, a
library, a sports hall, a workers’ institute and youth services facilities.
The OP House
The building is in active use throughout the day and serves the entire population
of the district. The large building is a defining element in the structure of the district set in an expansive
rural landscape, creating a common public area accessible for all. Designed by Esa Ruskeepää Architects,
the school was completed in 2015.
Puukuokka, an eight-storied timber-framed residential building in Kuokkala, Jyväskylä, serves as a prime
example of how to create original and individualistic housing design using new production and
manufacturing techniques. The spacious stairwell offers a splendid view of the surrounding landscape
creating a unique architectonic atmosphere in the heart of the building. The building was completed in
2014 and is designed by OOPEAA Office for Peripheral Architecture.
The Opinmäki School
Puukuokka
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Finlandia Prize for Architecture and members of the pre-selection jury
The pre-selection jury comprised Jorma Mukala (chair), editor-in-chief of Finnish Architectural Review; Juulia Kauste,
Director of the Museum of Finnish Architecture; Eero Lundén, architect; and Pirjo Sanaksenaho, Professor of
Architecture and Director of the SOTERA Institute at Aalto University. Serving as secretary to the jury was Paula
Huotelin, Secretary General of the Finnish Association of Architects.
The Finlandia Prize for Architecture is awarded to a design or renovation design for an outstanding new building or
building complex that has been completed within the past three years. The prize may be awarded either to a Finnish
or foreign architect, or to an archictural firm for a project designed for a location in Finland; or to a Finnish architect or
architectural firm for a project designed for a location abroad. The purpose of the prize is to promote the appreciation
of high-quality architecture and to highlight the importance of architecture in producing cultural value and increasing
well-being.
The Finnish Association of Architects, SAFA, made the decision to establish the Finlandia Prize for Architecture on 12
December 2011. The prize logo was created by the graphic designer Aimo Katajamäki. The logo was inspired by the
earlier Acanthus leaf logo, drawn for SAFA by Alvar Aalto.
To the media
The media is welcome to attend the announcement of the prize at Media Centre Lume, Helsinki, on Wednesday 23
September 2015. A special invitation to the event will be presented later.
Media contacts: Anna Kari, Pink Eminence, tel. +358 40 717 8185, anna (at pinkeminence.fi
Images: www.arkkitehtuurinfinlandia.fi
> For the media
Other inquiries: Jorma Mukala, tel. +358 45 635 7634 or Paula Huotelin, tel. +358 9 5844 4224
Finnish Association of Architects SAFA
The Finnish Association of Architects, SAFA, is a non-profit professional organisation that actively promotes the
interests of its members as well as architecture and high-quality living environments in general. Established in 1892,
the Finnish Association of Architects has a membership of around 3,100 architects with a university degree and some
600 student members.
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