Workplace Design
Amerikka’s New Home: How an Old Bank Was Transformed into a Creative Office?
Amerikka took on a creative challenge by turning a former bank branch into a modern workspace through a series of design workshops. The new office now serves as a test lab and a showroom for clients.
Turning Doubt into Vision
Amerikka’s CEO, Heidi Lilja, was invited to view a potential new office space in Kalasatama, Helsinki. It was on the top floor, well-connected by public transport, and close to services. There was even a private elevator that opened directly into the space.
But as Lilja stepped into what used to be an old-fashioned bank branch, disbelief took over. “So dark and low,” she exclaimed, glancing up at the yellow fluorescent lights and thinking to herself—what kind of potential could this place possibly have?
Meanwhile, Amerikka’s Creative Director Teemu Nojonen, who had brought Lilja to the space, was tapping at the ceiling panels with a long black umbrella and responding enthusiastically: “There’s space and change is an opportunity.”
The ideas started pouring in.
That’s often how it goes. Challenges are turned into opportunities, and sometimes the trickiest parts become the most distinctive features.
The story of Amerikka Design Office’s new workplace is, in many ways, a familiar one: the goal was to find a smaller, more functional space than the previous one. The old office no longer met the team’s needs, as the way people at Amerikka worked had changed.
A Surprising Opportunity in a Demanding Space
“It was a bit of a mixed feeling. On one hand, a great location and privacy – but the space itself was awkwardly shaped and looked gloomy,” recalls Project Manager Jussi Salmivuori.
In the early stages, Salmivuori and Interior Architect Laura Lampo mapped out the old office’s spatial program and overlaid it onto the floorplan of the new space. “The first drafts already followed the main outlines of what we have now, but there was clear development and refinement along the way,” Salmivuori explains.
Several workshops were held throughout the project, where the team co-created and developed spatial solutions together. “The workshops were important because they brought in broader perspectives and new ideas,” Lampo says of the process.
The result of this collaboration is a space that supports everyday work while being visually pleasing. It includes quiet single-person focus rooms, larger meeting rooms, a materials library, a spacious entrance area, and an improved digital work environment.
Challenges in Spatial Design
One of the biggest challenges was the narrow, elongated shape of the space, which naturally divided into two zones: a public lobby area and a quieter, more private workspace. “At its narrowest point, the space was less than three meters wide, which called for creative solutions,” Salmivuori explains. The answer was to highlight the central corridor with color, turning it into a defining feature.
Now, color clearly separates the public area from the private zone, helping to maintain focus in the space dedicated to creative work.
Salmivuori and Lampo took the challenge as an opportunity to prove their professional skill. “We figured, if we can’t turn this into a good office, we’re in the wrong business,” Salmivuori says with a smile.
Timeless Durability
Plans were adjusted on the fly during demolition of old surfaces. The original idea was to expose the concrete walls and ceiling, but when gypsum boards were discovered on the ceiling, the concept flipped and the concrete floor was revealed in the lounge area instead. “It added a nice touch of that loft-like character,” Lampo describes.
“Metal is often overlooked in sustainable design. For example, that stunning kitchen island is made of recycled steel and it stands the test of time,” Salmivuori explains.
Durability is, after all, one of the most important features of any material or solution when it comes to sustainability and carbon footprint calculations.
“The project reused old glass walls found in the building, which have been reframed,” Lampo explains, highlighting the role of recycled materials in the interior design. She also refers to sustainability and responsibility, continuing with the principles of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) and life cycle analysis.
Our Office as a Test Laboratory
The result is a functional and pleasant office space that serves both employees and clients. “This project was a positive challenge for us, and we are very satisfied with the outcome,” Lampo summarizes.
The crown jewel is the rooftop terrace, perfect for after-work gatherings and visually appealing even from inside. “It’s great to have our own test laboratory where we can observe firsthand how our design work functions,” Lampo laughs.
“The starting point of the project has also been to demonstrate to clients that we can make sustainable choices and transform old elements into something new, resulting in an attractive workspace,” Salmivuori adds.
Measuring Design Success with the Coffee Cup Index
This project has been a journey that strengthened team spirit and created new opportunities for the future. “We’ve introduced a coffee cup index. Increased coffee consumption indicates that people enjoy the workplace more and are present. In fact, coffee consumption has risen by 20% during H2,” Lilja says happily.
Amerikka’s new office is proof of the team’s ability to see opportunities where many only see challenges.
There’s still room for improvement when it comes to returning clean cups to the cupboard.
Sustainable Choices and Recycling
Material selections in office design have a significant impact on the environmental footprint of the project. For this project, all materials were chosen based on strict sustainability assessments. Comparing large surface materials, such as ceiling solutions and flooring, helped reduce the project’s carbon footprint by approximately 2%. The carbon footprint calculation followed the national guidelines developed in cooperation with the Green Building Council Finland, based on the Ministry of the Environment’s recommendations.
Ⓒ Ville Vappula Studio
facts
Subject:
Amerikka's new office is located in the trendy Kalasatama area of Helsinki, right next to Teurastamo (VERK building)
Customer:
Suunnittelutoimisto Amerikka
Timeframe:
2024
Scale:
395 m2
#designbyamerikka:
#WorkplaceDesign #InteriorDesign #ArchitecturalDesign #LookAndFeel
Team
- Lead, Architect, and Interior Design: Amerikka Design Office – Jussi Salmivuori & Laura Lampo
- Kiinteistön omistaja: Antilooppi Management Oy Toimistomuutoksen pääurakoitsija: Rakennus Grahn Oy Kattoterassin pääurakoitsija: Rakennus Puhtitec Oy Alakatot: Cewood Oy Tekstiililattia: Orient Occident Oy Terassilattia: Hiil Oy Lasiseinät: Inlook Oy Toimistovalaisimet: XAL Finland Oy Keittiösaarekkeen valaisimet: Teclux Oy Ruokapöydän riippuvalaisimet: Gulled Laatat: Laattapiste-Pukkila Oy WC allaskalusteet ja keittiön tasot: Durat Oy Erikoiskalusteet: RT-Interiors Oy, Savo Design & Technic Oy Irtokalusteet: Restatop Oy, Modeo Oy, Roltrade Oy Esitystekniikka: Presson Oy Verhot ja rullakaihtimet: Fabrica Oy Irtomatot, sivupöydät ja WC-varusteet: Koolmat Oy
Top 4
- The old bank office transformed into a modern workspace through a series of workshops.
- The collaboration resulted in a space that supports everyday work while being visually pleasing.
- The office utilization rate has increased by over 20%, measured by the "coffee cup index."
- Comparing large surface materials, such as suspended ceilings and flooring, helped reduce the project's carbon footprint by approximately 2%.
Does your space need development? Don’t hesitate to reach out—no matter the size of your project, we’ll work together to find the best solution for your specific needs!
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