Expecting the unexpected, law firm Dottir turned to Finnish studio KOKO3 for a bold new look
Sited in a heritage building in the heart of Helsinki, where neoclassical façades meet the crisp air of Nordic innovation, Dottir has established a new kind of law office. More closely resembling a contemporary cultural institution than a space for litigation, the firm tapped acclaimed Finnish design studio KOKO3, under the creative direction of partner Mari Relander, to create an office that would embody its renegade spirit.
Dottir, from the Old Norse word for “daughter”, is not your typical law firm. Known for its work within the business sector, it was founded to challenge the industry’s established practices and align with its ever-evolving needs – a progressive identity reflected not only in its approach to clients but in the very bones of its headquarters. While the building might carry historical gravitas, the interiors swiftly unravel any expectations of oak-panelled chambers or leather-bound formality.
There are no sombre rows of desks, no quiet corridors exuding legalese. Instead, the firm embraces a visual and spatial language that is sharp, curated and utterly unorthodox. Forest green tables, bold fields of colour and sculptural furniture create a vivid atmospheric composition that oscillates between the poetic and the provocative. In one corner is a chair in custom woven Annala fabric, with a Hem Glyph side table sitting beside it and a striking painting by Paavo Kärki – just one of many surprising, compelling design vignettes conceived by KOKO3. “The brief that we got from Dottir – If you have to choose between cosy and bleak, go for bleak’ – was one of the most memorable we’ve ever received,” says Relander with a laugh. “They wanted the office to feel more like a gallery or conceptual studio than a law firm, and their choices were very intentional. The whole premise was about resisting the expected: eschewing domestic warmth and soft neutrality in favour of clarity, edge and artistic tension.”
But there is nothing cold or sterile here. Instead, the interiors hum with a studied vitality, and colour choices across the rooms are idiosyncratic yet deliberate: dusky maroons, mustard, chartreuse and flashes of electric green interact like the layers of a painting rather than a palette. “We design very intuitively with colour,” says Relander. “The aim was not to soothe, but to spark.”
The workspace itself is as fluid as it is striking. There are no assigned desks and much of the furniture is modular or on wheels, allowing the rooms to transform from workplace to event space with ease. Dottir regularly hosts talks, events and industry gatherings, and the interiors are designed to support this dynamism.
Lighting – developed in collaboration with Helsinki-based firm Saas Instruments – adds a transformative element, and art is embedded into the environment rather than being ornamental. Selected from the private collection of one of the firm’s founding partners and curated with the help of two of Finland’s most prominent galleries, the works are at once humorous, cerebral and bold. Representing fresh pieces by Finnish graffiti pioneer EGS and the often-political visual provocateur Riiko Sakkinen among others, the artworks engage in an ongoing dialogue with the space, reflecting the firm’s refusal to separate legal work from broader cultural expression. “You don’t hang work like this unless you have real confidence in who you are,” Relander notes.
KOKO3’s design also respects the integrity of the original building, drawing deep red accents from its historic features and embracing a monochrome foundation that balances old and new. Postmodern Finnish touches, like the Visio chair by Yrjö Wiherheimo and Simo Heikkilä, add 1980s edge and national context, while custom built furniture reinforces a clean-cut aesthetic.
Dottir’s choice to create its office this way might be a radical departure from the norm, but it’s already proving influential. Since the completion of the project, KOKO3 has seen growing interest from other firms intrigued by Dottir’s bold vision. “They’ve shown that credibility and creativity can – and should – coexist,” says Relander. “You don’t need mahogany to be taken seriously.”
In a city celebrated for its design restraint, Dottir’s offices – composed, tactile and architecturally articulate – offer a confident disruption: a space that performs like a stage, thinks like a studio and feels like a manifesto.
Photography by Riikka Kantinkoski
This story was originally featured in OnOffice 172, Autumn 2025. Discover similar stories by subscribing to our weekly newsletter here
