Fashionable apartment in the heart of Helsinki
Centrally located in Helsinki, across from the Old Church Park (Vanha kirkkopuisto), lies a beautiful historical building from the early 1900s. The building was originally a commercial property but has recently been converted into a number of spectacular flats.
Private residence, Helsinki, Finland
Architect: Saukkonen + Partners
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Dinesen Douglas. Historical planks.
Thickness: 35 mm. Width: 200-400 mm. Full lengths up to 8 m
Underfloor heating
Finish: Lye and white soap
NB! The photos show the newly installed, newly finished floor. Deviations due to natural patina, wear or inadequate maintenance may occur.
The modernisation process began in 2008, when the owners of one of the new flats faced an interesting task together with the architectural firm Saukkonen + Partners. Their particular part of the property had previously housed a bank, and converting this space into a home required a radically different layout. The result is a flat that reflects a clear focus on function and design.
As a curiosity, the owners and the architects decided to preserve elements that bore testimony to the building’s prior purpose. For example, a former bank vault now serves as a library, although the heavy vault door was replaced with a more light-weight solution.
The owners and the architects aimed for a light, minimalist and Scandinavian look. To support that vision, they choose Dinesen’s historical Douglas planks, because the full- length planks help tie the rooms together, and because planks laid root-against-top bring a sense of authenticity and movement to the clean-lined rooms.