The sustainably renovated Haiku shortlisted for World Architecture Festival
The 70’s office building is a finalist in the Retrofit category, which recognizes the world’s most outstanding and inspiring renovation projects.
The World Architecture Festival (WAF) will be held in Miami in November. The festival brings together the international architectural community and showcases the most significant projects across several categories.
Haiku is an office building located in the vibrant Kallio district in Helsinki. Although the area is lively, the building had, over time, lost its link to its surroundings and become a lonely bystander. Built in the 1970s, Haiku represented the kind of building that today is often demolished without hesitation. However, instead of demolishing Haiku, its bold owner Areim chose to preserve it. In the renovation designed by Olla, the building was given a new identity without sacrificing its original character. The project had ambitious sustainability goals, and focused on making the most of the existing materials, surfaces and structures. The outcome is a clever and architecturally striking building where the old and new blend seamlessly into a harmonious whole.
Get to know Haiku’s full story here.
See photos of Haiku before and after
Haiku before and after the renovation. The lower floors were opened up, and a restaurant space was added on the ground floor to connect the building to the street level in a new way.
The entrance before and after the renovation.
A two-storey extension was added to the building and now serves as the main entrance. The new and original materials are intentionally left distinct from one another.
In the renovation, special attention was paid to the entrance and arrival experience.
One of the project’s most significant circular economy successes was reusing the old window glass panes in the new glass partition walls.
Haiku competes in the category Retrofit, which showcases buildings that have been substantially upgraded or modified while maintaining their original function. Haiku continues Olla’s strong track record at the World Architecture Festival: in recent years, the Fennia Block in the heart of Helsinki, Akvarelli multipurpose center in Forssa, Tikkurila daycare center in Vantaa, and Telia Data Center in Helsinki have all made it to the finals. In 2018, Länsisalmi Power Station was awarded the best in its category.
The World Architecture Festival, the world’s largest architecture event featuring live judging, will take place in Miami from November 12–14, 2025. Winners will be announced on the final day of the festival.
Inquiries:
Bratislav Toskovic, lead architect
bratislav.toskovic@olla.fi
Photos: Martin Sommerschield, Kuvio Photo
