An invited competition for the new building of Osuuspankki in Oulu.

The urban concept of the plan is based on two building masses; to the basic block and to the residential tower. The basic block section, containing the new office and retail space, integrates the block's street-level building volume in a cityscape. Its simple building mass and evenly distributed window divisions are adapted to the facades and high-rise worlds of the buildings in the same block. The tower section is connected to the taller buildings in the cityscape of central Oulu, bringing a new fixed point to the city skyline. The retraction of part of the tower from the street line and the coloring of the building, as well as the surface treatments, emphasize the scale of the old urban space. On the courtyard side, the top floors of the tower have been chamfered to lighten its scale effect on the courtyard side. The shape creates a unique and easily distinguishable urban look for the building.

• Competition
• Public
• Housing

Our work includes developing, studying and producing architectural projects that answer the client’s needs in a unique, cost-efficient, rational and aesthetically pleasing synthesis.

The design process consists of analysing the special features of each site and program. Our Architecture grows from hard work and a high level of commitment. We believe that the only way to build sustainable cities and buildings is to use real solid materials, solve all the functions in a flawless way and give every space and building its own unique appearance – a soul.

2025 City of Kurikka Town Hall Architectural Competition 3rd Prize – ”Moomma”

2025 City of Helsinki Rakentamisen Ruusu Award Candidate – ”Vallila Karstulantie and Sammatintie Housing”

2024 School of the Future for Ukraine International Architectural Competition 3rd Prize – ”2FIUA”

2023 Kruunuvuorenranta Block 49338 Architectural Competition Honorable Mention – ”Stebu ja blomma”

2023 International Architecture Award Museums and Cultural Buildings – ”Aviapolis X”

2023 City of Antwerp Floating Platform for Water Recreation Design Competition 1st Prize – ”Allas Pool Bonapartedok”

2022 Service Block and Park for Kruunuvuorenranta Invited Competition Winner – ”Rantavalli”

2022 Jätkäsaari Lapti Invited Competition Winner – ”Jätkän Kruunu”

2021 City of Helsinki Vuosaari Senior Citizen Center Invited Architectural Competition Winner – ”Heiska”

2021 Helsinki Taka-Töölö Block 14530 Invited Competition Winner – ”Palazzo”

2021 Helsinki East Urban Centre International Ideas Competition Honorable Mention – ”Idän Eden”

2020 German Design Award Winner – ”Gullkronan Senior Housing”

2020 Finnish Facade Association Award for Architecture

2019 Mies van der Rohe Award Nominee – ”Gullkronan Senior Housing”

2019 Iconic Awards Innovative Architecture Winner – ”Gullkronan Senior Housing”

2019 City of Vantaa Aviapolis X Pavilion Invited Architectural Competition Winner – ”Aviapolis X”

2019 Skanska Helsinki Telakkaranta The Knot Invited Architectural Competition Winner

2019 Tuusula Fjällbo Park Jetty and Swimming Pavilion Invited Architectural Competition Winner – ”PLIPLAP”

2018 City of Helsinki Rakentamisen Ruusu Award Candidate – ”Gullkronan Senior Housing”

2017 City of Helsinki Kutomotie 1 Invited Architectural Competition Winner – ”Kutomotie 1”

2017 Finnish Wood Award Honorable Mention – ”Allas Sea Pool”

2017 Koivukylä Centre Competition Winner – ”Koivukylän Verso”

2017 Helsinki Kruunuvuorenranta Block 49274 Invited Architectural Competition – ”Cerro Torre”

2017 Extension to Tampere Art Museum International Architectural Competition Purchase –”Amurin kattojen yllä”

2016 Porin Puuvilla Invited Architectural Competition 1st Prize – ”Kudottu kaupunki”

2015 SATO 75th Anniversary Responsible Building for Future Invited Competition Winner – ”MinMaxMix”

2014 Helsinki Pohjola Headquarters Invited Architectural Competition Honourable Mention – ”West Village”

2014 Korean Institute of Architects - 100 architects of the Year – Santeri Lipasti

2014 Finnish Wood Award – ”Göstä Pavilion”

2014 Finlandia Prize for Architecture Candidate – ”Gösta Pavilion”

2014 Finnish Concrete Structure of the Year Award – ”Heka Länsisatamankatu 23”

2013 Väri 13 Competition Honorable Mention – ”Kaanaankatu Common Yard”

2013 Helsinki Central Library International Architectural Competition 2nd Phase Selection – ”Wave”

2013 City of Helsinki Kruunuvuorenranta Hopealaakso Invited Architectural Competition – ”AaGee Yeyé”

2013 City of Helsinki Halsuantie Invited Architectural Competition Winner – ”Branle Maltese”

2011 Concrete Facade Architectural Award – ”Kaanaankatu 6 and Kaanaanpiha 4”

2009 City of Helsinki Saukonpaasi Invited Architectural Competition Winner – ”Light House”

2008 City of Helsinki Kaanaankatu Housing Block Invited Architectural Competition Winner – ”Arabesque”

2008 Living Steel International Architecture Competition for Sustainable Housing Architects Prize for Master Planning

2008 Finnish Constructional Steelwork Association Honorable Mention – ”Portable Cafe Building”

2008 Ruukki Steel Sandwich Panel Design Competition Commendation – ”Portable Cafe Building”

2006 City of Helsinki Viikinmäki Invited Architectural Competition Winner – ”Frizzante”

2006 Finnish Concrete Structure of the Year Honorable Mention – ”Triadi Housing”

2005 Ruukki Living Steel Design Competition for Modular Steel Framed Housing System – ”+Plus”

2004 Open Architectural Competition for Village Hall Palttina in Espoo 2nd Prize – ”Pore”

1999 Kierikki Archaelogical Center in Yli-Ii Architectural Competition 2nd Prize – ”Sormus”

PRESS RELEASE     25/02/2025

Pasi Toivanen to strengthen the board of Huttunen-Lipasti Architects!

The architectural office, known for its high-quality housing design, gets an outside-of-the-field perspective from an international IT-industry expert for its board work.

The Helsinki-based architectural firm Huttunen-Lipasti Architectst Oy strengthens its strategic competence by inviting IT industry expert Pasi Toivanen to its board of directors.

Toivanen brings a perspective from outside the industry to the company's board work, which helps lead Huttunen-Lipasti Architects to internationalization. The chairman of the board, Santeri Lipasti, also expects Toivanen to spar in the technological upheaval of the industry.

- Pasi has experience in global business and has a solid understanding of where the world is going and how technology is increasingly integrated into society. As a person interested in architecture, he also has a vision of how technology changes our industry, says Lipasti.

- In Sweden and especially in Denmark, a significant part of architects do design outside their home market. In Finland, the situation is different although the skills of Finnish architects are indeed on the same line as their Nordic colleagues. We have recognized the need to open new markets.

Pasi Toivanen is known above all as a "Nokia man", but in addition to Nokia, he has worked for a long time at Juniper Networks and Ericsson around the world, such as in China, Great Britain and Silicon Valley. In recent years, his work has focused on cloud edge computing solutions and business models related to various cloud abstractions. Another major theme of his work has been partnerships between different companies and ecosystem thinking as an enabler of customer solutions.

Pasi Toivanen especially sees the use of artificial intelligence as a great opportunity in building design:

- Artificial intelligence with high processor power opens up completely new possibilities for spatial planning and modeling conditions. Architecture is quite a conservative industry, where we have been perhaps too much in our own bubble. I want to bring out a more holistic point of view in board work, where technology and society meet architecture synergistically, without confrontation, says Toivanen.

Additional information and interview requests:

Santeri Lipasti: +358 40 578 5547

Pasi Toivanen: +358 50 486 8280

Huttunen-Lipasti Architects Oy is a Finnish architectural firm established in 1998, which is known especially for its high-quality apartment design. In addition, the company has designed many visible landmarks of Helsinki, such as the Allas Sea Pool and the Gullkrona service building. The company employs more than 20 architects.

Huttunen-Lipasti Architects Ltd 
Lönnrotinkatu 18 A
00120 Helsinki, Finland
+358 9 694 7724, mailh-lfi

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