Restaurant Design
Restaurant Fågeli
Located in the heart of Sörnäinen, at Lintulahdenkulma, the lunch restaurant Fågeli was given a refreshed and vibrant identity following a change of operator. At the same time, lunch dining was reimagined from a quick everyday stop into a more considered and welcoming experience.
Shaped by the Surroundings
Fågeli’s identity is rooted in the gritty urban character of Sörnäinen and the layered everyday life of this densely populated area. The lively street level, shifting rhythms and distinctly urban atmosphere formed the key starting points for the renewal.
The new operator, Nordrest, is a food service company that has expanded from Sweden to Finland. Its philosophy is built around locality and elevating the quality of everyday lunch moments. At Fågeli, this translates into a restaurant that sits naturally within its surroundings and serves both local residents and people working in the area.
Nordrest and the property owner approached the renewal with an open mindset. The project became a shared investment in which the daily operations of the restaurant, the urban context and the long-term development of the property were closely intertwined.
Food Leads the Way
The restaurant’s customer flow was redesigned so that the food takes center stage and greets guests already at the entrance.
The buffet area was compacted and its placement refined to create a calmer, more inviting dining zone. The coat station was moved to the lobby and the dish return was relocated entirely, improving the flow for both customers and staff.
Fågeli’s lunch concept is built around a vegetable-forward approach and seasonal ingredients. The food is composed of colourful, easily combinable dishes where quality and flavour are central.
Bright vegetables also served as inspiration for the interior design, and the dining experience is intended to be enjoyed in a relaxed way while still supporting the fast pace of everyday urban life.
<< Assistant Restaurant Manager Mirkka Pihlajamaa preparing the day’s lunch service.
Softer Acoustics and a Warmer Atmosphere
The beautiful old parquet floor and the previously renewed ceiling provided an unusually strong starting point for the design, but acoustics still posed a challenge. Hard surfaces and clattering furniture made the space noisy, affecting both the customer experience and the staff’s working environment.
The renovation introduced softer seating solutions, sofas, and carefully selected materials that calm the soundscape and enhance comfort.
A long, modular fixed sofa designed by Amerikka runs through the space, unifying the narrow restaurant hall into a single coherent whole. At the same time, it adds warmth, rhythm and flexibility for future use.
From Old to New
The renovation project embraced circular-economy oriented thinking and a collaborative way of working between stakeholders. The design and implementation made use of as many existing elements as possible. For example, with the intent of reducing material waste, the old buffet and cashier structures were adapted instead of being remade. At the same time, the project aimed to work with domestic suppliers and local partners, supporting local production.
Taking a circular approach to design is becoming increasingly important in the restaurant industry as a way to combine environmental sustainability with operational quality.
Nordrest’s sustainability strategy supports this mindset — its goals include reducing food waste, prioritising responsibly sourced ingredients and lowering environmental impact. In Fågeli, this approach was intended to be reflected not only in the interior design and material choices, but also in the wider values of the building as a whole.
The table tops are made of laminate from recycled materials.
The buffet tables were revamped by Jarno Weckström / Puumeka Oy.
Urban Splash of Color
The restaurant’s visual centrepieces are three vibrant wall murals that bring the urban spirit and energy of Sörnäinen into the interior. Amerikka developed the original concept, and graffiti artist Hende Nieminen / Henden Vaara was given the freedom to interpret and realise the works in his own style:
“The client had a clear vision ready, but I was able to interpret it freely with my own signature. I used a video projector and an overhead projector to sketch the outlines on the wall, and executed the work during a few nights in July while the city slept. The result is not traditional graffiti, but rather an indoor mural realised with street art techniques.”
The dish return point was given a playful detail too.
Tight Schedule, Flexible Implementation
The Fågeli renovation was carried out during a tight summer schedule, which required careful planning and a phased approach. The project first focused on the changes needed for the restaurant to reopen and operate normally, while less urgent elements, such as loose furniture and final details, were postponed to a second phase in the autumn.
The phased implementation also allowed customer feedback to be incorporated into the final solutions. For example, the height of the buffet tables was adjusted to improve accessibility. This approach ensured that the final result works smoothly for both customers and staff, and remains durable in everyday use.
Interior, atmosphere, functionality – and, of course, the delicious food – have received a great deal of positive feedback from both customers and staff.
Fågeli’s Head Chef Pekka Ikonen.
Explore Nordrest’s restaurants at nordrest.fi.
facts
Subject:
A colourful lunch restaurant in the heart of Sörnäinen
Customer:
Nordrest Finland Oy | Kiinteistö Oy Lintulahdenkulma
Timeframe:
2025
Scale:
n. 180 m2
#designbyamerikka:
#interiordesign #interiorarchitecture #restaurantdesign #servicedesign #customerjourney #lookandfeel
Team
- Design Office Amerikka: Roosa Verkasalo, Tomi Jokinen, Heli Siren
- Nordrest Finland Oy | Kiinteistö Oy Lintulahdenkulma | Retta Management | Keva
- Contractor: Bekantti Oy | Fixed furniture: Puumeka Oy | Loose furniture: Restatop Oy , Vepsäläinen | Wall murals: Hendenvaara | Stickers & signs: Teippitukku
Top 5
- Re-thinking lunch – from a quick stop to a relaxed and enjoyable part of daily urban life.
- The design draws from Sörnäinen’s urban character, visible in the space’s look and feel.
- Customer flow was flipped around to emphasize the food, which is now positioned closer to the entrance and welcomes guests as soon as they enter.
- Circular economy principles such as reusing existing elements where possible and opting for long-lasting materials were applied in the refurbishment.
- The tight schedule was solved with a phased, flexible approach, which enabled finishing touches to functionality to be made based on insights from restaurant operations after first launch.
Interior photos Ⓒ Ville Vappula Studio
Food & staff photos Ⓒ Nordrest / Alexander Store
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