Avanto Architects Ltd. is the proud creator of the Finnish Design Shop

Finnish Design Shop is a rapidly growing online store that specializes in Nordic design. The company has seen a significant increase in growth since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic, as traditional brick-and-mortar stores needed to close and people who were forced to stay home had a lot of extra time to do online shopping. Furthermore, since people were spending the majority of their time at home, there was also a surge in popularity for decorating one's own apartment. The new headquarters for Finnish Design Shop includes a logistics centre that sends products all over the world, a showroom to display the company's products, as well as a restaurant run by a famous local chef.

The design task was tricky. The very big building got its form from the layout of the automated robot warehouse inside, and it was not possible to articulate the building with massing or roof shape. Even though the location next to a highway and in the proximity of the Turku airport spoke for a simple structure, the user of the building wanted that the building represents the company’s values and was a high-quality design and easy to approach. Designers had to find a way to make a simple structure look high-quality and easy to approach while still representing the company's values.

The design for the building was inspired by the natural surroundings, particularly the conservation area to the north of the site. The exterior of the building incorporates a vertical relief pattern, resembling tree trunks, as a nod to the nearby forest. During construction, efforts were made to preserve as many trees on the property as possible, and the green spaces were filled with natural undergrowth and stones from the site. The parking lot was divided into smaller areas, each featuring plantings of Finnish trees and wild vegetation native to the area. The building's large windows offer views of the peaceful forest, and there are outdoor areas that can be accessed from the restaurant terrace and the office floor workspace through a long balcony.

The exterior of the building was constructed using concrete sandwich elements with a pre-made concrete form liner by Recli. Despite the 3D relief being only 15 millimetres deep, the appearance of the surface changes based on the angle of the sun, making it seem deeper and more three-dimensional. The striped pattern on the surface is a crucial design element as it creates a sense of smaller scale on the large facade. The relief becomes more noticeable as one approaches the wall, adding another level of perception. The concrete was given a black colour with a pigment and the surface was coated with a black varnish to intensify the colour. The dark colour helps the large building blend into its surroundings.  

In contrast to the black concrete surfaces, the main entrance vestibule and the office floor balcony are covered with stained wooden planks. The wooden windows and doors, which are unusual for a logistics building, add warmth to the building's dark exterior.

As you enter the building, you'll find a showroom displaying the products sold by the company. The large, glazed space showcases the building's use and its surroundings. A long, straight staircase made of two massive glulam beams leads to the office spaces on the first floor. From the gallery level, you can see through the full-width windows to the ground-floor logistics hall and the robot collection system.

The building was certified as BREEAM Excellent (the second highest level), the first logistics building in Finland to receive such certification. The certification was done by a separate LCA expert. The energy is produced by geothermal heat, powered partly by electricity from solar panels on the roof. Sustainability was taken care of in all design solutions and building works.