The prestigious building designed by Alvar Aalto opened to the public and new tenants
Kanavaranta 1 is one of the landmarks of the Market Square in Helsinki and one of the rare buildings that are protected by law instead of the town plan. Sweco’s project development and construction experts supported the transformation of the prestigious building from Stora Enso’s head office to several tenants.
The white-marble Kanavaranta 1, designed by Alvar Aalto, has caught the eye on the edge of the Market Square in Helsinki since 1962. In 2008, Stora Enso’s head office “Sugar Cube” got a new owner, and the German real estate company Deka Immobilien Investment GmbH started developing the property. Stora remained the main tenant until 2021.
In 2020, Deka chose Sweco, who already knows the property Project management professionalsHauling real estate development projects responding to the wishes of new tenants and today’s energy efficiency requirements. ‘For the first time in its history, the site was opened for several tenants, and at the same time the general public can enjoy Alvar Aalto’s architecture,’ says Sweco’s Project Manager Kristian Markkanen.
Responsibility emphasised in property development
In addition to technical and financial goals, the site modification projects were steered from the perspectives of sustainability and conservation. The office was protected by law in 2010, and all alterations were supervised by the Alvar Aalto Foundation alongside the National Board of Antiquities.
“The space changes were a balancing act between strict conservation values and the functions required by modern building services technology and modern offices, such as space reservation systems, smart lighting and AV systems,” Markkanen says. For example, Alvar Aalto’s material hierarchy had to be retained. ‘The new interior design and material solutions were used to implement Aalto’s basic idea that finer materials were also chosen for the finest spaces.’
The first of the reforms was an energy efficiency development project carried out on the terms of conservation values, in which the building automation system and ventilation control systems were renewed. In addition, the sustainability of the site was developed in accordance with BREEAM In-Use environmental certification. “For example, green plants, bicycle parking and e-bike charging points were added.”
According to Markkanen, social responsibility, which is part of ESG criteria, was reflected not only in comfortable offices but also in reducing hierarchies between different spaces. “In addition, equality is emphasised in the building’s toilets, almost all of which are multigender.”
Modern premises for tenants in the middle of historical layers
Suitable premises for the new tenants were renovated in three renovation projects. In the premises of law firm DLA Piper, the premises emphasized contemporary décor and the special requirements of the tenant’s business, such as extreme insulation between office spaces.
“In protected areas, this was only possible with tailor-made solutions,” Markkanen says. In addition to the modern look, the original building parts were preserved, and furniture, handles and glass walls were recycled and used in the new office premises.
On the fourth and fifth floors are the premises of the wind power company Ilmatar, some of which are among the most protected in the site. Only light make-up could be done to the cabinet area on the Market Square side, but adaptable zones were created on the newer side to serve the company’s various functions. “The company’s growth is strong, so it must be easy to add new workstations later,” Markkanen says.
The National Board of Antiquities monitored particularly closely the changes affecting the façade view, which is why ceiling lights, for example, had to be kept unchanged. The stairs between the floors were also encased under the close supervision of the Finnish Heritage Agency. “Since the stairs are visible through the windows in the direction of Uspenski Cathedral, they had to be viewed as part of a protected façade.”
Restaurant Toppa offers views over Helsinki
One of the most impressive spaces in the building is the top-floor fine-dining restaurant Toppa. It was implemented in place of the workplace restaurant, which required appropriate changes to both the kitchen and the dining room. The hall, which opens in three directions, contains, among other things, a bar and dining cabinet with beehive lamps. The aim was to preserve unobstructed views.
“The hall is half a metre lower than the outdoor terrace, so when you dine, you can see the most beautiful roofs and domes of the Helsinki skyline, but not the hustle and bustle of the city. It makes the space calming,” Markkanen says.
The hall has access to a large roof terrace with stunning sea views. The old railing, about one meter high, was modified to be taller and safer. “A glass wall about 1.4 metres high was found to work in terms of wind conditions and the cityscape.”
The terrace is now also accessible from the restaurant’s cabinet. ‘In Aalto’s drawings, the project team found a place for the door leading to the terrace that had never been realised. Now the additional door serves as an unobstructed passage to the terrace.”
