Fjord’s Helsinki studio by Studio Joanna Laajisto
The design and innovation consultancy Fjord confided the design of its Helsinki studio to the locally based Studio Joanna Laajisto. The two companies worked together to set up a place that would translate the brand characteristics into interior design principles.
“Elegant, unconventional and human – those were the starting points of our design process. This is an office primarily made for employees to feel at home, and the wow factor for outsiders comes from what the space feels like, not merely from
its looks” – Joanna Laajisto
Instead of building a traditional office, the aim was to create an approachable, homelike workspace. Therefore, the studio includes several different kitchen and lounge spaces suitable for collaboration, creative work and casual hang-outs. Privacy can be found in comfortable phone booths lined with Kvadrat’s acoustic Soft Cell panels. The 1000 m2 studio was furnished with natural materials of high quality: oak floors with sound-absorbing underlay, sisal carpets, and loads of plants. Light flows through the studio’s delicate, metallic room dividers, and linen curtains give privacy when needed.
“We wanted the space to feel approachable and friendly: like coming to someone’s home. Therefore, although we work with technology, we don’t want to be surrounded by it. In our office, technology is in the background, and it works – you don’t have to think about it”- Stéphanie Del Rey, service design lead from Fjord Helsinki.
For Fjord Helsinki, it was important that most materials and pieces of furniture were of Finnish origin – without being too explicit about it. Meeting rooms are furnished with Artek Rival chairs and living rooms’ large carpets are from Woodnotes, whereas Knoll’s Womb chairs were designed by Finnish designer Eero Saarinen. Living rooms’ large lamps are called PJ01, and they were designed by Joanna Laajisto and designer Pasi Kärkkäinen. The green kitchens blend in with the natural materials, and they were furnished with Ilmari Tapiovaara’s Domus chairs as well as oak tables and benches from Nikari.
