Fjord Helsinki Head Office by Studio Joanna Laajisto

If home is where the heart is, then our home is in the offices of Fjord Helsinki. Pouring over the images of this gorgeous project I have to constantly remind myself that the space before me isn’t a residence, but a well-designed, envy-provoking office and a commendable example of a human-focused design.

Having outgrown its Helsinki premises in Finland, Fjord, one of the worlds leading design and innovation consultancies required a new space that would reflect its brand. The team enlisted the help of Studio Joanna Laajisto who were tasked with translating their brand 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,” says designer Joanna Laajisto.

Consciously straying from the likes of traditional office design, the aim was to create an approachable homelike workspace that brought familiarity to the company’s international spectrum of employees. Within the office, rooms echo the spaces of a home and are styled to create an inviting and comfortable atmosphere. Boardrooms are arranged like dining rooms with large decorative pendants that fall over long timber tables. Several kitchens and lounge spaces mimic the layout of a residence and provide spaces suitable for collaboration, creative work and casual hangouts.

Adhering to this ethos, organic materials and soft hues lend themselves to a well-blended palette of finishes and product selections. Oak floors with sound-absorbing underlay, sisal carpets, and abundant greenery are the foundation for this classic yet quirky design. Delicate linen curtains add to the homeliness of the space and allow for privacy as needed – they sit draped over glazed partitioning that allows light to pass through each space of this 1,000 square metre premises.

An important aspect of Fjord Helsinki’s brief was to heavily incorporate materials and furniture pieces of Finnish origin. Amongst the selections is Knoll’s Womb chairs by Finnish designer Eero Saarinen. In the kitchen oak bar tables by Ilmari Tapiovaara’s Domus allow staff to come together during breaks. The spaces and their furniture pieces are designed to be adaptive, used in various versatile ways “[staff] even use it in their spare time for movie nights and casual hang-outs,” explains Fjord Helsinki service design lead, Stephanie Del Rey.

“For me, the best feedback was having Fjord employees volunteered to come to the studio to help me with a photo-shoot – on a Saturday afternoon, with their kids and dogs! We ordered pizza, drank some wine and everybody stayed longer than was needed. If people enjoy spending their free time at the office, we have truly succeeded in creating a homely work environment,” said Joanna Laajisto.

The mark of any good design lies strongly in its ability to meet its clients’ brief. Studio Joanna Laajisto has excelled in creating an office that is elegant, unconventional and human beyond the expectations of an everyday office. A home away from home for the employees of the Fjord global family.

See more projects by Joanna Laajisto on Yellowtrace.