Collage 3/26: Finland’s first second-hand shopping centre, sculptural residential architecture and thoughts on the future of learning environments
Collage brings together the latest news from Olla. In this issue, we take a look at Finland’s first second-hand shopping centre, learning environments designed to meet diverse needs, and a sculptural apartment building. In all the projects, design plays an important role in creating better everyday environments. They are also united by Olla’s people-centred approach to architecture and a desire to challenge established conventions.
Matkus Luuppi is Finland’s first second-hand shopping centre
Designed by Olla, Matkus Luuppi in Kuopio brings together a second-hand shopping centre, a recycling station and services that promote circular economy into a unique whole. Opened in August, Luuppi aims to make reusing goods as easy and natural as any other part of everyday life.
Olla was responsible for Luuppi’s principal, architectural and landscape design, as well as the interior concept, in collaboration with the client. The architecture of the second-hand shopping centre is simple and open: abundant natural light, light-coloured wood surfaces and timeless materials create a neutral yet warm backdrop for second-hand goods. Recycled materials and furnishings have also been incorporated into the building itself.
Read more about Luuppi’s exceptional concept, rare even by European standards, here.
Luovi Tampere is a vocational college that understands different starting points for learning
Luovi is Finland’s largest vocational special education institution, providing schooling also for students who require additional support. Olla designed a new unit for Luovi in the beautiful lakeside setting of Iidesranta, Tampere. In the design of the educational environment, particular attention was paid to accessibility, and Olla also developed signage guidelines for all Luovi locations to support this.
Read more about how Luovi’s learning environment was designed to serve as wide a range of learners as possible.
Olla brings sculptural brick architecture to Oulunkylä
At Olla, housing design is guided by a desire to create homes and environments that serve residents, their surroundings and the developer: places that become cherished homes and neighbourhoods through everyday use.
Designed for the City of Helsinki Housing Production, Maapadontie 9 is located in a prominent position on a hilltop in Oulunkylä, Helsinki. The location also inspired the building’s fortress-like character. In contrast to the robust outer shell, the courtyard facade features glazed balconies with warm, translucent-treated timber surfaces.
All apartments in the sculpturally meandering building have private balconies extending across the width of the apartment, while the top floors also feature open-air terraces. The curved building frames an inviting courtyard bordering a park. The garden-like courtyard and its surroundings include shared play and recreation areas as well as a sauna and communal facilities for residents.
Read more about the five-storey apartment building designed by Olla here. And how does the form of tenure influence architecture? Are rental homes designed differently from owner-occupied or right-of-occupancy homes? Read what Olla’s Kari Selonen has to say on the subject here (in Finnish).
Olla designed the extension and renovation of Mårtensdals Bildningsrum – the community-oriented learning centre brings together Swedish-language services
Mårtensdals Bildningsrum is a building complex that brings together Swedish-language education, cultural and leisure services in Vantaa. The building houses a Swedish-language primary school and daycare centre, Vantaa Music Institute, as well as Folkhälsan, which provides a wide range of wellbeing services. The shared facilities create a framework for close collaboration between the different operators and strengthen Martinlaakso’s role as a meeting place for the Swedish-speaking community.
Olla designed the extension and renovation of the building. The school building, completed in 1977, was extended with a new wing located to the north, while the existing school building underwent a comprehensive renovation.
Read more here about Mårtensdals Bildningsrum, which aims to foster a stronger sense of community and serve as a versatile Swedish-language centre for learning and culture.
Olla’s interior architect Maria Haapala discusses the future of learning environments
Olla is an expert in designing learning environments, and sees them as unique pedagogical tools. Learning environments are not only important places for growth, experiences and encounters, but also exceptionally significant environments for the flourishing of individuals and society as a whole.
Olla’s interior architect and experienced learning environment designer Maria Haapala will take part in an event organised by Lekolar, discussing what the future of learning environments looks like from a designer’s perspective.
What insights and everyday choices are needed when designing the learning spaces of the future? Joining Maria Haapala in the panel discussion are interior architects Inkeri Halla-aho and Stiina Kiuru.
In the event’s keynote presentation, Danish interior architect Maria Svensson will discuss how innovative, integrated approaches to lighting and interior design can create more user-friendly learning environments and support innovative pedagogy.
Learn more about the event taking place on 18 September here (in Finnish).
Lue lisää
Luuppi, designed by Olla, is one of a kind: Finland’s first second-hand shopping centre redefines the concept of the circular economy
Collage 2/26: Victories, awards, and projects progressing well
