Collage: March & April
The Kollaasi is a summary of Olla’s news. The highlights from March and April revolve around school design and a variety of intriguing renovation projects. There was plenty to get excited and inspired about – both within our own team and together with colleagues across the field.
Olla to renovate primary school and daycare in Malminkartano
Children of Pihkapuisto Primary School and Kaunokki Daycare will soon enjoy new and renewed facilities, thanks to the renovation and extension designed by Olla. The original 1980s building, which has suffered extensive damage, will be demolished and replaced with a new structure. At the same time, the extension from the 1990s will be thoroughly renovated. The new building is designed as a two-storey structure to allow for expanded and more versatile outdoor areas.
Olla’s project plan was approved by the Helsinki City Council in March, and the design work continues with applying for a building permit. The renewed school is expected to welcome its users in autumn 2027.
Haiku is one of the flagship projects of Helsinki’s Circular Economy Cluster
Promoting a circular economy is a key part of Helsinki’s efforts to reach its ambitious climate goals. The city’s Circular Economy Cluster Program supports innovation and business development in the field by bringing together stakeholders in the construction industry. Kaikukatu 3 – also known as Haiku – is one of the flagship examples presented to Helsinki’s then Deputy Mayor Anni Sinnemäki in early March.
“We should reach a point where the new normal in construction means that a significant share of materials is always reused. The goal should be that every material used has already served a purpose elsewhere. We still have a long way to go – and as a city, we need to systematically develop regulation to support this,” Sinnemäki said.
The success of circular thinking at Kaikukatu has been largely due to multidisciplinary collaboration and a shared sense of purpose. Read more about Haiku here.
Renovate, don’t speculate – Arkkitehtipäivien etkoilla Ollan toimistolla syvennyttiin syihin, miksi rakennusten uudelleenkäytön tulisi olla uusi normaali
The Finnish Association of Architects’ (SAFA) Architect Day 2025 took place in early April with the theme Sustainable Economy. The official pre-event was hosted at Olla’s Muuntamo space on the eve of the main conference. The evening began with a screening of a documentary about the HouseEurope! citizens’ initiative, which calls for EU-wide legislation that would make building renovations and adaptations easier, more affordable, and more appealing. The initiative argues that demolishing buildings in the current way is as outdated as food waste, animal testing, or single-use plastics.
A local example of sustainable economy and creative reuse was Olla’s Haiku project. Olla’s Bratislav Toskovic and Tea Ellala shared how a 1970s office building was transformed from a dormant bystander into a magnetic urban landmark – without compromising ecological, economic, or social sustainability.
The evening also featured presentations by Pauli Siponen of Avarrus Architects and Marja-Riitta Norri of MRN Architects, who shared captivating renovation projects. The evening’s host, Tarja Nurmi, concluded with a talk on building reuse practices in Central Europe.
A team that learns together, succeeds together – April’s inspiration: the renovated Finlandia Hall
At Olla, learning and finding inspiration together is part of our culture. In April our team explored the renewal of one of Alvar Aalto’s iconic works: Finlandia Hall.
Historic renovations always spark our interest – they’re a core part of what we do. Some of our recent renovation projects in the heart of Helsinki include Maxim, one of the oldest cinemas in Finland, and the century-old former girls’ school at Arkadiankatu 24.
