The refurbished lobby of the Helsinki City Hall opened

The refurbishment of the Helsinki City Hall lobby by Verstas Architects and KOKO3

Photo: the City of Helsinki

Verstas Architects and the design bureau KOKO3 created a concept for a cozy activity hub in the centre of the city that enables events, seminars, workshops and press conferences. The lobby is a space for both citizens, organizations, civil servants and city politicians.

Photo: Kimmo Virtanen

The refurbishment highlights the architecture of the city hall as well as the visual identity of the City of Helsinki. Carl Ludvig Engel designed the original empire style building in 1833 and in the 1960s Aarno Ruusuvuori renewed it.

The lobby has been extended to receive more natural light. Mirror-clad furniture enhances the effect.

Photo: the City of Helsinki

The refurbished hall opened on the April 16th. It demonstrates the ambition of the city to foster a new kind of institutional culture and showcases the spearhead projects of the city.

Verstas Architects, KOKO3 and the mayor of Helsinki pose in the lobby of the Helsinki City Hall

Photo: the City of Helsinki