Arkkitehti - Finnish Architectural Review

Essay — 22.9.2026

The charming Viljanen House preserves tragedies of Finnish architectural heritage

The family home of architect Kaarlo Viljanen has gradually taken shape over the course of four decades, whilst elsewhere the built heritage has been demolished, redeveloped or abandoned.

Book — 29.9.2026

architectural practice

Architectural manifesto for the age of turbo-capitalism

OMA partner Renier de Graaf’s newest book does not lack ambition when outlining goals for 21st century architecture.

Editorial — 29.9.2026

There is no need to look to centuries past for models of circular economy architecture

There are many forgotten tangents in the recent history of architecture that from a circular economy perspective can seem surprisingly fresh and possess development potential, writes Kristo Vesikansa in Re-use issue editorial.

Viewpoint — 22.9.2026

circular economy

Circular economy thinking inevitably changes the architect’s role and ideals – Four architects reflect on where the focus should be right now

We asked four architects to reveal the aspects of a circular economy that currently interest or puzzle them.

People — 18.9.2026

museum architecture

How to repair a radical building, Nicolas Moreau and Hiroko Kusunoki?

French-Japanese architect duo Moreau and Kusunoki are currently the lead architects for the cultural transformation the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Ella Kaira spoke with the architects about restoration, cultural institutions and how looking closely at the past can open up possibilities for the future.

Project Review — 30.9.2026

re-use

A storage building located on Mustikkamaa in Helsinki generates information for future construction

A maintenance and storage building located in Mustikkamaa is built mainly from reused building components. The materials subtly reflect their previous lives.

Phenomena — 18.6.2026

geopolitics

Geopolitics is thought about a lot in the architectural field, but rarely talked about

Italian Daniele Belleri has written a series of articles for the Finnish Architectural Review website about the influence of geopolitics on Finnish architecture. In the final article of the series, he discusses how the architectural field should act in the changed geopolitical situation.

Phenomena — 18.6.2026

geopolitics

Architecture can form a counterforce to imperialism, and Finland is a good example of this, says researcher Markus Lähteenmäki

Art historian Markus Lähteenmäki has studied imperialism in architecture. According to Lähteenmäki, anti-imperialist thinking is an inseparable part of the history of Finnish architecture.

Research — 15.6.2026

self-building

Protest camps give an example of what genuinely democratic planning could look like

Pijatta Heinonen studied the planning and building practices in three Central-European areas that had originally been occupied by protesters in their recent doctoral dissertation.

Viewpoint — 15.6.2026

urban design

How to design cities that nurture joy

Examining the city through the lens of urban joy reveals the importance of preserving spontaneity, informality and the freedom to use spaces without purpose, argues Merve Ünlü.

Phenomena — 15.6.2026

sustainability

Prototypes lead the way to the low-carbon future

One way to develop carbon-neutral materials is to construct prototypes and demo houses that are built to actual scale. Kristo Vesikansa surveyed the most interesting experiments in Europe.

Viewpoint — 15.6.2026

housing design

Refurbishing the idea of home

Home refurbishments reveal an attitude that playfully underscores daily use and materiality, rather than newly built structures.

Editorial — 15.6.2026

small scale

Close to the ground, eyes on the horizon

Small projects have the potential to act as prototypes for new sustainable technologies and lifestyles. Thus, the Small Interventions issue focuses on the margins of the architectural field and through them explores approaches that could have broader applications.

Editorial — 4.5.2026

oulu

Oulu under construction

To mark Oulu’s year as the European Capital of Culture in 2026, the Finnish Architectural Review dedicates an issue to the current topics related to architecture and urban planning in Oulu.

Phenomena — 28.4.2026

geopolitics

Oodi Library is the opposite of flexibility – ”This is a public, open building for people, it cannot be transformed into an office building”

Finnish libraries are a laboratory for materializing an egalitarian society, says researcher Hossam Hewidy. Daniele Belleri discusses the importance of libraries in national crisis resilience with five architects dedicated to library design.

Phenomena — 15.6.2026

geopolitics

Prototypes lead the way to the low-carbon future

One way to develop carbon-neutral materials is to construct prototypes and demo houses that are built to actual scale. Kristo Vesikansa surveyed the most interesting experiments in Europe.

4 – 2026
Re-use

What does circular ecoomy mean for the daily work and ideals of an architect? When advancing circular architecture, is it more important to focus on spectacular, innovative pioneer projects or to gradually improve the construction industry’s everyday practices? What kind of variety is there in the current Finnish circular architecture?

Projects

Industrial

Mustikkamaa storage and maintenance building

Aalto University
Helsinki
2025

Offices

Aleksanterinkatu 13

Futudesign
Helsinki
2024

Learning

School and community centre in Meri-Rastila

OPUS Architecture
Helsinki
building design in progress

Culture

Saari Residence

pihlmann architects
Mynämäki
in construction

Urban design and planning

Vallila Circular Economy Block 697

Anttinen Oiva Architects
Helsinki
detailed plan in progress

Culture

Reina Sofía Museum Cinema and Auditorium

BACH
Madrid
2025

Advert

Finnish architecture in the shadow of geopolitics

Phenomena — 18.6.2026

geopolitics

Geopolitics is thought about a lot in the architectural field, but rarely talked about

Italian Daniele Belleri has written a series of articles for the Finnish Architectural Review website about the influence of geopolitics on Finnish architecture. In the final article of the series, he discusses how the architectural field should act in the changed geopolitical situation.

Phenomena — 2.1.2026

Museum of Architecture and Design

Pilvi Kalhama: “Today’s construction culture is too cautious”

Finland spends too much time calculating risks, says Pilvi Kalhama, director of the Museum of Architecture and Design. This may also be the reason why no major Finnish companies have emerged in the creative industries in recent decades, Kalhama says in an interview with Daniele Belleri.

Phenomena — 28.4.2026

geopolitics

Oodi Library is the opposite of flexibility – ”This is a public, open building for people, it cannot be transformed into an office building”

Finnish libraries are a laboratory for materializing an egalitarian society, says researcher Hossam Hewidy. Daniele Belleri discusses the importance of libraries in national crisis resilience with five architects dedicated to library design.

Phenomena — 20.4.2026

geopolitics

What remains of the Oulu School?

The architecture of the Oulu School has been both loved and disparaged. The buildings are now due for refurbishment, and many risk demolition.

The charming Viljanen House preserves tragedies of Finnish architectural heritage

Architectural manifesto for the age of turbo-capitalism

There is no need to look to centuries past for models of circular economy architecture

Circular economy thinking inevitably changes the architect’s role and ideals – Four architects reflect on where the focus should be right now

How to repair a radical building, Nicolas Moreau and Hiroko Kusunoki?

A storage building located on Mustikkamaa in Helsinki generates information for future construction

Geopolitics is thought about a lot in the architectural field, but rarely talked about

Architecture can form a counterforce to imperialism, and Finland is a good example of this, says researcher Markus Lähteenmäki

Protest camps give an example of what genuinely democratic planning could look like

How to design cities that nurture joy

Prototypes lead the way to the low-carbon future

Refurbishing the idea of home

Close to the ground, eyes on the horizon

Oulu under construction

Oodi Library is the opposite of flexibility – ”This is a public, open building for people, it cannot be transformed into an office building”

Prototypes lead the way to the low-carbon future

4 – 2026
Re-use

Projects

Mustikkamaa storage and maintenance building

Aleksanterinkatu 13

School and community centre in Meri-Rastila

Saari Residence

Vallila Circular Economy Block 697

Reina Sofía Museum Cinema and Auditorium

Finnish architecture in the shadow of geopolitics

Geopolitics is thought about a lot in the architectural field, but rarely talked about

Pilvi Kalhama: “Today’s construction culture is too cautious”

Oodi Library is the opposite of flexibility – ”This is a public, open building for people, it cannot be transformed into an office building”

What remains of the Oulu School?

Newest issues

4 – 2026
Re-use

3 – 2026
Small Interventions

2 – 2026
Oulu

1 – 2026
Housing Variations

5 – 2025
New Visions

The charming Viljanen House preserves tragedies of Finnish architectural heritage

Architectural manifesto for the age of turbo-capitalism

There is no need to look to centuries past for models of circular economy architecture

Circular economy thinking inevitably changes the architect’s role and ideals – Four architects reflect on where the focus should be right now

How to repair a radical building, Nicolas Moreau and Hiroko Kusunoki?

A storage building located on Mustikkamaa in Helsinki generates information for future construction

Geopolitics is thought about a lot in the architectural field, but rarely talked about

Architecture can form a counterforce to imperialism, and Finland is a good example of this, says researcher Markus Lähteenmäki

Protest camps give an example of what genuinely democratic planning could look like

How to design cities that nurture joy

Prototypes lead the way to the low-carbon future

Refurbishing the idea of home

Close to the ground, eyes on the horizon

Oulu under construction

Oodi Library is the opposite of flexibility – ”This is a public, open building for people, it cannot be transformed into an office building”

Prototypes lead the way to the low-carbon future

4 – 2026Re-use

Projects

Mustikkamaa storage and maintenance building

Aleksanterinkatu 13

School and community centre in Meri-Rastila

Saari Residence

Vallila Circular Economy Block 697

Reina Sofía Museum Cinema and Auditorium

Finnish architecture in the shadow of geopolitics

Geopolitics is thought about a lot in the architectural field, but rarely talked about

Pilvi Kalhama: “Today’s construction culture is too cautious”

Oodi Library is the opposite of flexibility – ”This is a public, open building for people, it cannot be transformed into an office building”

What remains of the Oulu School?

Newest issues

4 – 2026Re-use

3 – 2026Small Interventions

2 – 2026Oulu

1 – 2026Housing Variations

5 – 2025New Visions

4 – 2026
Re-use

4 – 2026
Re-use

3 – 2026
Small Interventions

2 – 2026
Oulu

1 – 2026
Housing Variations

5 – 2025
New Visions