Fyra’s renovation of Konelabra, a century-old university building in Helsinki, is a lesson in design – adding functional and inspiring office and showroom spaces to the city
From the Alvar Aalto-designed Finlandia Hall to the historic Hotel Kämp, design firm Fyra has been involved in the renovation of many of Helsinki’s most storied landmarks. Since launching in 2010, the Finnish studio has earned widespread acclaim for its masterful ability to harmonise heritage with modern design. So when Cobbleyard Real Estate purchased a century-old former university building in the city’s central Kamppi district, Fyra was quickly called in to make a plan for updating the space.
Designed by Onni Tarjanne, the architect behind the grand Finnish National Theatre, the vast, red-brick building originally housed laboratory spaces for the Helsinki University of Technology. After the Second World War, the university moved out and the Helsinki Technology School took over. But the building (which is known as Konelabra) had stood empty for five years before being purchased by Cobbleyard Real Estate, which enlisted Fyra as the principal designer to repurpose the building into office and showroom spaces.
Today, a dozen different companies operate within the building, including Fyra. The firm designed a versatile new office for itself in the building’s former electrical laboratory. It was a quick turnaround for the team, who began working on the building at the end of 2023 and moved into their new space less than a year later. “It was quite a tight schedule,” says Tiina Närkki, a partner at Fyra. “Our last space was only about 200 metres away in an old chocolate factory. It was more of a conventional office. I think people have enjoyed our new premises, especially the amount of light that we get through the tall windows.”
The new open-plan workspace is cleverly subdivided using diaphanous fabric curtains and shelving units, with meeting rooms tucked beneath a mezzanine level, which is filled with more desks. It’s a luminous space, with whitewashed walls and warm wooden furnishings from brands such as Finnish furniture-makers Artek. The design embraces the history of the building by carefully preserving technical relics such as cranes, dials and switchboards – and the original red-and white checkerboard tiled flooring (which was uncovered by the design team) adds a cheerful splash of colour. “All this detailing tells the story of the old school here, so we really wanted to preserve it,” says architect Otso Virtanen from ARK Helsinki, who collaborated with the Fyra team on the project.
Despite being built by an esteemed architect, Konelabra’s non-showy exterior means that it has remained relatively anonymous over the years. “It’s right in the heart of the city, but a lot of people didn’t know what it was because it’s never really been open to the public,” says Virtanen. “When I told people I was working on Konelabra, a lot of them would say, ‘Oh that building, I’ve always wondered what was in there.’ But now it’s more open to the public, more people are getting to know the space.”
An emphasis on keeping existing elements in place was continued throughout the building, with everything from flooring and skirting to doors and windows maintained. Even the shade of wall paint was chosen to match the original. “We tried to preserve as much as possible,” says Närkki. “We didn’t want to add too many new materials or anything unnecessary.” As a heritage-listed building, there were also limits as to how much of the existing design could be altered, and the Fyra team worked closely with the Helsinki City Museum to make sure that the fabric of the building wasn’t changed too drastically. “The basic concept was to leave the building itself untouched,” says Virtanen “And because the building was first owned by the state and then by Helsinki city, they’ve never had enough money to renovate and destroy things. So a lot of original features have been left intact.”
By balancing preservation with thoughtful new amenities, Fyra and Cobbleyard have transformed Konelabra into a smartly equipped workspace that has tempted all manner of companies (from international record labels to cookery schools) to set up offices within the building. Alongside its restored interiors, the facilities now include a rooftop terrace, a refurbished sauna, indoor bike parking, an auditorium and even a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, Labra. These additions not only enhance the building’s functionality but also make it an inviting hub for today’s tenants, ensuring that the landmark continues to serve Helsinki’s business community for decades to come.
Photography by Riikka Kantinkoski
This story was originally featured in OnOffice 173, Winter 2025. Discover similar stories by subscribing to our weekly newsletter here
