From Bystander to Trendsetter
Haiku is a 1970s office building that was saved from demolition, and a renovation project that has since gained international recognition. In a video about the project, Olla’s designers share how a structure once stuck in the past was transformed into an architectural exemplar for the future.
Haiku is an office building located in Helsinki’s Kallio district. Originally constructed in the 1970s, the building had over the years lost its connection to its surroundings. Before the renovation, Haiku was a typical example of the kind of structure often demolished today: too young to be considered historic, yet too old to be appealing. In Helsinki alone, many buildings from this era face an uncertain future.
However, Haiku’s owner, Areim, chose to go against the mainstream — opting for renovation instead of demolition. With Olla as the designer, Haiku was transformed into a modern and architecturally striking modern office building where the old and the new intertwine in a compelling way. The project’s ambitious sustainability goals emphasized reusing existing materials, surfaces, and structures as much as possible. Haiku demonstrates that architecture prioritizing sustainability can be visually inspiring, environmentally considerate, and economically viable.
The Ideas and Values Behind the Architecture
Olla want to tell the story of its architecture by going beyond what’s visible: highlighting the people, ideas, and processes behind each project.
In the short film Haiku – From Bystander to Trendsetter, Olla’s designers Bratislav Toskovic and Tea Ellala share the thinking and values that shaped Haiku.
“In the video, we state that no building exists in isolation from its surroundings. In the same way, no building exists apart from the people who design it. Every design project involves countless conversations and reflections: reasoning behind choices, discussions within the team, and the constant weighing of alternatives. Stories about architecture are inevitably incomplete if they focus only on the final outcome. It’s not only fascinating but also eye-opening to understand why things were designed the way they were. Buildings shape our urban spaces and affect all of us. At best, revealing the thinking behind them can deepen understanding and foster respect for our shared environment,” says Terhi Isokuortti from Olla, who wrote the film’s script.
A Small Project with a Remarkable Story
In November, Haiku will compete at the World Architecture Festival in Miami in the Retrofit category, where nine finalists contend for the title of the world’s best renovation project. Among Haiku’s competitors are London’s world-famous Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) restoration and the refurbishment of San Francisco’s iconic Transamerica Pyramid.
Compared to these massive undertakings, Haiku is small and modest — and that’s exactly what makes it significant. It represents a design mindset that the world needs most right now: the ability to recognize value where it’s not usually seen, and to create a positive impact with minimal environmental burden.
Because Haiku’s story is larger than the building itself, Olla and Kuvio wanted to share it through a video. Olla and Kuvio have collaborated closely for many years, and this mini-documentary was another result of that partnership. Kuvio was responsible for filming and sound recording, while Olla wrote the script. The editing process was carried out collaboratively.
“It was important to us that the video doesn’t just show architecture, but makes visible the fact that every building is the result of thought and choices,” says Martin Sommerschield from Kuvio. “Making the video also forced us to ask ourselves: what is truly essential in this project? For us, the video is a way to open up the process — and it was fascinating to hear and capture that in the designers’ own words. One key lesson was this: don’t rush. The best results come with time and good collaboration.”
Anders Portman from Kuvio agrees: “Presenting architecture visually requires time and calmness so that the designer’s idea and its execution can truly reach the viewer. A video, as a format, must be watched from start to finish — minute by minute — unlike photographs that can be quickly skimmed. In this production, the designers’ narration guides the story, even shaping some of the camera angles and subjects. The video gives the viewer space to get to know the building’s story.”
Read more about Haiku here.
