Workplace Design
We create working environments of tomorrow through data-based research. With our forward-thinking design, we integrate brand concepts into spaces where employees want to be present.


Happiness develops people’s capacity for creative thinking and problem solving. As the number one happiest country on earth, we take a pride on our social responsibility to create spaces that enhance wellbeing. The connection between dynamic working environment and productive business is evident.
User engagement plays a crucial role in our workplace development projects. Using different service design methods, we aim to nurture our clients’ strategy, values, and culture through the creation of functional, futureproof spaces. By incorporating clever and socially and environmentally responsible design practices, traditional constructions can be rethought. We believe in carefully curated spaces that cherish being together – spaces that have a meaning.



Located in the Katajanokka neighborhood, DLA Piper established a new home in Alvar Aalto’s iconic, recognizably monolithic “Sugar Cube” building.
Client
DLA Piper
Location
Helsinki
Area
1800 m²
Year
2023
Partners
Alvar Aalto Foundation The Finnish Heritage AgencyArk Byroo
Photography
Riikka Kantinkoski
Expertise Workplace Design
Background



Strategy
Fyra was selected as DLA Piper’s design partner for the project in early 2022 to plan the functionality and appearance of the new premises. Since a majority of the staff had previously worked in their own rooms, an extraordinary number of meeting rooms, phone booths and quiet spaces were designed to ease the transition. Additionally, the layout included a webinar room, library, and recreation room.






Delivery
Featuring panoramic views of Helsinki Market Square and the sea, the substantial semi-public lounge serves both employees and visitors. The design of the premises, supervised by the Finnish Heritage Agency and Alvar Aalto Foundation, carefully considers the unique historic value of the building.


Team
Tiina Närkki
Co-founder
Senior Designer,
WP and RE development
tiina.narkki@fyra.fi
+358 (0)40 536 3530
Niina Sihto
Co-founder
Senior Designer,
WP and Concepts
niina.sihto@fyra.fi
+358 (0)40 508 0332
Maija Leskelä
Interior Architect
Furniture Designer
M.A. (Cultural Anthropology)
maija.leskela@fyra.fi
+358 (0)40 041 2322

Timeless prestige with the most impressive views in town.
Client
Carnegie
Location
Helsinki
Area
950 m²
Year
2022
Photography
Aleksti Tikkala
Expertise Workplace Design
Background


For investment bank Carnegie’s move, the upper level of the former UPM headquarter building was to be transformed into a functional office space with a distinctively esteemed ambience. The design process started by pre-establishing a few clear principles: since the operations are run by two separate divisions, Investment Banking and Securities, the space needed to be physically separated for regulatory reasons. In spite of the units’ separation, it was imperative to have a large functional break out area in order to facilitate daily breakfasts and unplanned encounters between teams during the day.

Strategy & Delivery




Original materials, such as glass walls and doors, as well as notable amount of existing materials like suspended ceilings, were preserved to the greatest extent possible. With modern wooden furniture and timeless design classics, the space reflects Nordic atmosphere and ages with dignity. The broad, dark wooden surfaces reflect the aspired ambience of prestige. The design language communicates with the historical architecture of the building, with furniture, acoustic solutions, and structure designed to calm down the open office space.





Team
Tiina Närkki
Co-founder
Senior Designer,
WP and RE development
tiina.narkki@fyra.fi
+358 (0)40 536 3530
Laura Järvinen
(on parental leave)
Interior Architect SIO
Designer
laura.jarvinen@fyra.fi
+358 (0)50 523 7187

The best work environment in the Nordic region. The new Helsinki premises of CBRE, an internationally recognized company focused on work environments and real estate consulting, could have been nothing less.
Client
CBRE Finland
Location
Helsinki
Area
1492 m²
Year
2020
Photography
Riikka Kantinkoski
Expertise Workplace Design
Background



When Fyra started to plan the facilities for their long-term partner the main idea was that the work can be fun and comfortable, but the space can still be distinguished and professional. The facilities are divided into an internal zone that is used only by employees and an external zone that acts as a showroom for various work environment solutions – a collaborative space for customers and partners that easily transforms into seminar or event use.
Strategy & Delivery


The entire premises were designed according to latest wellbeing standards for a high-quality work environment that supports the health and wellbeing of employees. We spend 90% of our time indoors. Our well-being depends on how our environment treats us. This means taking into account e.g. indoor air, lighting solutions, exercising possibilities, and overall comfort of the space.
The premises have plenty of water points and a huge amount of greenery – even in some surprising places. Both the visitor zone and the inner zone have mindfullness spaces for rest where you can recover and calm down.


Much attention was paid to indoor air and sustainable development, e.g. by using chemical-free materials, recycled materials and vintage furniture. The sustainability also shows in the use of wood – the furniture was ordered from local carpenters and Finnish brands were preferred in the product choices.
The gentle color palette of shades of green, brown and blue reflects the natural color scheme. For exercise and small breaks from work there are different options such as wall bars – however in a way that all the elements fit into the space beautifully and subtly.



Team
Tiina Närkki
Co-founder
Senior Designer,
WP and RE development
tiina.narkki@fyra.fi
+358 (0)40 536 3530
Niina Ojutkangas
Head of Insight &
Workplace Development
Interior Architect SIO
niina.ojutkangas@fyra.fi
+358 (0)45 224 1014

Roche, the largest biotech company, is a pioneer in healthcare and a frontrunner in personalised healthcare. Roche is the global leader in cancer treatments and the leading provider of in vitro diagnostics.
Client
Roche
Location
Espoo
Area
1400 m²
Year
2020
Photography
Riikka Kantinkoski
Expertise Workplace Design
Background


The premises of pharmaceutical and healthcare companies have typically been clinical and white, as well as highly hierarchical. However, Roche wanted to create a comfortable workplace for its employees with a relaxed, team-friendly atmosphere. In line with the company’s values, the workplace must also improve the quality of life and health.


Strategy & Delivery
Fyra always designs facilities in close cooperation with the customer. The design of the premises began with workshops with Roche’s employees and experts. Roche’s new premises are located in Metsä Group’s main building in Tapiola.
The plans took into account the beautiful architecture of the building – collaboration & working cafe was located with the best sea view, at the intersection of the L-shaped base, where all employees can enjoy the view. Equality was one of the starting points for the design and it was important that the facilities serve all employees and different working habits.

The new premises combine Roche’s two different industries: diagnostics and pharmacology, the aim of the spatial design was to support cooperation between the fields. In accordance with Roche’s values, Fyra chose local furniture and materials such as Finnish wood and granite for the interior. The harmonious color scheme of the space was inspired by the surrounding seascape and nature.
Team
Niina Sihto
Co-founder
Senior Designer,
WP and Concepts
niina.sihto@fyra.fi
+358 (0)40 508 0332
Anu Latvala
Head of Concepts
Interior Architect
anu.latvala@fyra.fi
+358 (0)41 501 6405
Silja Kantokorpi
Interior Architect
Designer
silja.kantokorpi@fyra.fi
+358 (0)44 031 0899

Workery+ Vallila
In the autumn of 2020 construction company and urban developer YIT invited Fyra to join a new and exciting project called Workery+. Together with Microsoft YIT had created “The Year Zero Report”, a study that defines seven lessons on the future of working. Workery+ Vallila is the first concrete outcome on what a service model based on those learnings would look like.
Client
YIT
Location
Helsinki
Year
2021
Photography
Riikka Kantinkoski
Awards
Smart Building Award 2021
Expertise Workplace Design
Background




Plans for the new kind of shared office and remote working space were put into action quickly. The Sturenportti building in Vallila, Helsinki had gone through renovations during different time periods. Thus, a clear unified feeling of space needed to be created, while also making as little changes as possible in the building itself to minimize the environmental impact. The protected iron floors of the building served as an inspiration for a reproduction of the industrial atmosphere throughout the premises.
Strategy & Delivery





Workery+ Vallila offers workspaces for operators of all sizes. The building consists of open lobby space with café, lunch restaurant, project and meeting rooms, common working spaces, and quiet, soundproofed workspaces. A professional webcast studio is one example of the curated services that Workery+ Vallila offers. Workery+ Vallila is a co-working space truly designed to meet the needs of the new changed ways of working with a help of smart and innovative technologies.


Team
Niina Sihto
Co-founder
Senior Designer,
WP and Concepts
niina.sihto@fyra.fi
+358 (0)40 508 0332
Anu Latvala
Head of Concepts
Interior Architect
anu.latvala@fyra.fi
+358 (0)41 501 6405
Maija Leskelä
Interior Architect
Furniture Designer
M.A. (Cultural Anthropology)
maija.leskela@fyra.fi
+358 (0)40 041 2322

Happy Signals
Defined by its iconic location in the city center of Helsinki, Aleksi 15 has been a hub for commerce and business for a century and a half. The exceptional property is going through a major renovation regarfing the use of premises, as the historic commercial building is being transformed into a modern office and retail center.
Client
HappySignals
Location
Helsinki
Area
350 m²
Year
2021
Photography
Riikka Kantinkoski
Expertise Workplace Design
Background



HappySignals, a leading measurer and identifier for happiness, expectation and productivity data, was looking for a new home for its newly grown team. The aim was to find a bright space where new and changed ways of working were taken into account.
The property of Aleksi 15 answered the need for a right kind of premise perfectly, resulting in rapid plans for a modern, user oriented office space. In addition to designing premises for the new tenants, Fyra was also involved in creation of the marketing materials.

Delivery
HappySignals office represents a new era of working. According to HappySignals’ wishes and needs, the office has numerous tailored spaces for different working needs. For example a full studio set was built for video and podcast recording needs. Communal spaces were given a great deal of careful thought to create a homely atmosphere and in addition to traditional workstations the different ways of meeting colleagues and customers was emphasized.

Team
Ella Liuksiala
Interior Architect
Niina Ojutkangas
Head of Insight &
Workplace Development
Interior Architect SIO
niina.ojutkangas@fyra.fi
+358 (0)45 224 1014

In July 2018 technology company Solita chose Fyra to create a new key concept for their premises. At the same time, it would change the working culture of the growing company.
Client
Solita
Location
Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Lahti, Stockholm, Tallinn
Year
2019
Photography
Riikka Kantinkoski
Expertise Concept DesignWorkplace Design
Background



Solita chose Fyra to address a challenge that had come up in the business: how to create a space that enables growth without the addition of actual square metres. The company had already conducted utilisation rate calculations and employee surveys. Fyra reviewed the initial data, participated in group interviews and helped create the vision the company had for their spaces.
Strategy & Delivery


The result was a concept tailored to take into consideration the changing needs of both individuals as well as teams. There were different types of spaces. One of them, Daily, was built in the immediate vicinity of the team huts. It was a place for the teams to have their daily 15-minute stand-up meeting. The workstation areas consist of flexible solutions so teams can grow or become smaller without major changes.
The important thing for a growth company is to be able to meet clients and stakeholders. This is now easy with the Meet up venue area. A great deal of conference rooms with efficient use of space were designed. All equipped with great video technology enabling working from wherever you are in Finland – or in the world. On the other hand, a shared café provides a natural way for employees to come together which, in turn, supports innovation.


The concept was tested in the smaller Solita offices in Turku, Lahti and Tallinn as well as in a separate pilot space in Tampere. Each location provided new information and the concept was developed accordingly. A well-prepared space concept enabled the completion of the Helsinki offices in six months from signing the lease to the new location.
Despite the tight schedule, the Helsinki office, too, has a lot of custom furniture and fixtures designed specifically for the premises. A well-thought-out and flexible concept ensures effortless growth for Solita in the future also.

Team
Tiina Närkki
Co-founder
Senior Designer,
WP and RE development
tiina.narkki@fyra.fi
+358 (0)40 536 3530
Heini Korpinen
Interior Architect
Designer
Niina Ojutkangas
Head of Insight &
Workplace Development
Interior Architect SIO
niina.ojutkangas@fyra.fi
+358 (0)45 224 1014
Sara Koivisto
Interior Architect
Concept Designer
sara.koivisto@fyra.fi
+358 (0)50 365 7219

Would you like to work today standing up, sitting in an armchair or gazing at the sea? All these types of working are available at the renewed Neste headquarters. The company’s work culture has now boldly entered a new era.
Client
Neste
Location
Espoo
Area
10 000 m²
Year
2017
Photography
Sampsa Pärnänen
Expertise Workplace Design
Background


In the beginning of summer 2016 the Neste headquarters’ façade appeared as grand and forward-looking on the outside but on the inside the interior was like in any other office: brown, grey and lots of separate rooms. The traditional cubicle style did not comply with the Neste brand and it was not reflecting the direction in which Neste wanted to take the company culture.
“We wanted a multi-space office that would encourage and promote interaction”, says Niko Pihlman, Head of Real Estate at Neste Oyj. “We wanted premises that are flexible and provide people with working space regardless of time or location.”
It was time to tear down walls and create a whole new working environment for over 600 people.
Fyra was chosen to create the interior design.
“We were particularly impressed with Fyra’s competence in providing multi-space office solutions. Their references show that people at Fyra are in tune with the office working culture of the future and how to implement that to the company premises”, Pihlman says.

Delivery
A well-thought-out concept was needed in the beginning. It took a lot of research and interviews.
“Interior solutions must always be based on how people work and operate in the environment we are going to design. We must find out how people in this exact company work. For me, as an interior designer, the most rewarding thing is solving the functionality of the premises and meeting the expectations of the personnel. This ensures an environment in which people thrive”, says Anu Latvala, Interior Architect at Fyra.
The renovation was carried out within an extremely tight schedule. The project began in the beginning of 2016 and the last floor was completed in July 2017. The personnel were interviewed and plans were changed whenever new needs came up.
“The Fyra team was keen and perceptive in recognising the needs that emerged from the interviews. Each floor was executed keeping in mind the needs of the building users as well as the overall requirements set by the company”, says Neste’s Niko Pihlman expressing his gratitude.


The fact that the company is located in two adjacent buildings, consisting of nine 1000-square -meter-floors, meant that Fyra had a challenge on their hands. From the beginning they decided to execute the project in stages.
One floor at a time the walls were torn down and the plastic flooring removed. Everything was substituted with colour, natural materials and sleek, modern furniture from Finnish furniture manufacturers. The guiding idea throughout the project was to create an open, flexible space where people can interact. Whereas previously people were sitting in their own places amidst piles of papers, now everyone has nine floors at their disposal.
“Pretty much all work spaces are flexible and they don’t ‘belong’ to anyone”, says Fyra’s Latvala.
A multi-space office allows information to circulate more easily as people see each other and are able to exchange ideas also in informal spaces – like in the kitchen. One was built on each floor.
“People work 7,5 hours a day. It is really important that the work environment is comfortable. An open-plan office has to have great support facilities”, Latvala says.
A fun detail in the new offices is that each floor has a kitchen that differs from the others – just like each floor. The furniture in each floor is different and some of the floors have a lush indoor plant wall.
“One wing is blue and the other is green and the colours fade towards the top”, Anu Latvala says.

There are work spaces and different office layouts that suit different needs. Some prefer a more traditional office desk and some a standing desk. Someone might perform better when slouching on a sofa with their laptop or sitting in a dark blue or green armchair. There a spots for those who work alone and for those who work in teams. Something for all.
“Different spaces provide sometimes a much needed distraction without having to leave the premises”, says Niko Pihlman from Neste.
One such distraction is available when taking the elevator to E6, the top floor. There is a self-service café, a small golf course, sofas, a library, armchairs and rooms of different sizes available for reservation. A minimalist interior combined with a spectacular sea view.
Big companies like Neste need their headquarters to look modern and contemporary, and last for more than ten years. Solutions have to be not only great but timeless, too. The facilities have to be flexible should there be a decrease or increase in the number of staff. Layouts must withstand changes.
“The new offices are more flexible and suit the Neste business operations”, says Niko Pihlman.
The renewed premises contribute to and complement the Neste marketing communications: fresh, easily approachable and positive. An office that looks like its brand engages employees and acts as a calling card for the company.
It was clear right from the start that the renovation would go further than just the Espoo headquarters in Finland. The concept needed to be reproducible and applicable on a global level. During the renovation Fyra and Neste compiled a manual regarding the office solutions. The instruction book called Agile Working will be made available in the Neste offices around the world.
This means that also other Neste offices will be able to provide different work spaces be it at a café or by a green plant wall or a golf course – or sitting at a traditional office desk.
“I am very happy with the outcome”, says Niko Pihlman at Neste.
“We found the common thread very quickly. The common thread between the Neste brand and the working culture we want to promote.”
Team
Niina Sihto
Co-founder
Senior Designer,
WP and Concepts
niina.sihto@fyra.fi
+358 (0)40 508 0332
Anu Latvala
Head of Concepts
Interior Architect
anu.latvala@fyra.fi
+358 (0)41 501 6405

Zalando Tech Hub
There are a couple of things you cannot help noticing when entering the Zalando Helsinki Tech Hub. The company known for its online retail business has premises where Hulk, the green superhero, jumps at you from the fire door, there are also swings with LED lights embedded in them hanging from ceiling beams as well as work stations where one can work in peace and quiet even if there was a party going on in the offices.
Client
Zalando Tech Hub
Location
Helsinki
Area
1 400 m²
Year
2016
Photography
Sampsa Pärnänen
Expertise Workplace Design
Background



But let’s rewind to where it all started. The fast-expanding Zalando started looking for bigger premises in 2015. There was a clear-cut vision from the start: Zalando hoped for not only more space but for a raw industrial look, a vivid colour scheme based on the brand colours and a wide variety of work areas and stations.
Fyra was actively involved in realising this vision from the beginning. Fyra’s interior architects were out and about looking at potential premises with Tuomas Kytömaa, Site Lead at Zalando Tech Hub. Various preliminary layouts were sketched according to different facilities.
Then the team chanced upon a 1400-square-metre space on Runeberginkatu street, in central Helsinki. “When I saw the space I thought wow. You could immediately see the possibility of dividing it in two sections: one high-ceilinged space for events and hanging out, and another dedicated as a quiet working space”, says Taru Leppänen, the Interior Architect at Fyra.
Strategy & Delivery

Splitting the space into two resolved the entire interior architecture of the facility. The events area with a ceiling reaching the height of almost ten metres provides an opportunity to play billiards, have lunch, hang out with your colleagues, work in the sofa area on the mezzanine or swing on the light-embedded swings. This section is also used for lectures, events and parties as it can be separated so that people can continue to work at the other end of the premises.
The starting point for the office design was to ensure a quiet atmosphere for working. The layout makes sure that you cannot walk between the work stations as the corridors circle outside the work areas. Phone booths were situated so that there are no distractions or curious looks from passers-by. Solutions were provided for all the special requirements – some of which were more surprising than others. “A larger quantity of men’s restrooms were needed as this predominantly male company offers soft drinks all day,” says Taru Leppänen. The people at Zalando also had another special request in mind: the offices definitely needed superheroes. In the previous office there were pictures laminated and attached on the walls.

In addition to Hulk, jumping at you from the fire door, the two adjacent meeting rooms feature Batman and The Joker. Both in graphic black and white, and gnashing their teeth. All the superhero artwork was drawn by artist Rasmus Tikkanen. The employees at Zalando were asked for their input in choosing which heroes should adorn their walls. Everyone was happy with the result. Not only in the artwork but the entire interior design.
“One of the employees told us that this is the first office where their child wants to come to work. Of all Zalando offices throughout the world, this is the most amazing and absolutely the best, which is something even our German colleagues always say”, Tuomas Kytömaa says.
There is loft-esque aesthetics to the premises but with a softer twist. Birch veneer peeled on a lathe, wood stained black as well as white surfaces. These surfaces and colours alternate complementing each other in the interior of both sections of the office. There are plenty of meeting rooms to choose from, be it small two-person rooms or larger conference rooms. They were organised as separate blocks which were stained black on the outside. Glass walls and doors were used to bring an airy, spacious feel.


Zalando did not have a real estate manager or a project manager in Finland so Fyra was in charge of not only the designing interior architecture but also of the comprehensive project management of the entire assignment. Zalando’s Kytömaa is extremely grateful and speaks highly of Fyra’s professional competence in design and process management. Another fact he appreciates is that the Fyra team takes a tour of the offices every now and then to check for possible imperfections and contact the developer if something needs to be addressed.
“Fyra was a trusted companion and we will definitely use them in the future. Had they not been there for us in this project this could have turned into a disaster”, says Kytömaa.
Zalando is an international company that is constantly growing meaning that is seen as an appealing employer as such, but Kytömaa sees the new, amazing premises as a huge asset when it comes to recruitment market. “This is really important. It helps branding when you see this is the coolest tech hub in Helsinki.”
Team
Niina Sihto
Co-founder
Senior Designer,
WP and Concepts
niina.sihto@fyra.fi
+358 (0)40 508 0332
Taru Leppänen
Interior Architect
Designer