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If Marimekko was a building, how would it be? A design house, iconic, white, clean, clear, minimalist, inspiring, and vibrant? Perfectly fitting, comfortably relaxed yet structured. Suitable for everyone, radiant, and recognizable. Durable and timeless in terms of usability. Technologically advanced and ergonomically top-notch, incorporating design processes.
These themes inspired the creation of Marimekko’s new headquarters in Herttoniemi, Helsinki. As part of an extensive renovation, the staff’s workspaces, showrooms, and the public Maritori restaurant were also updated. You can read more about Maritori here.
“If Marimekko was a building, how would it be?”
– Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko, CEO, Marimekko
Marispirit is the state of mind on which the visual appearance of the house and the space is based. It led Workspace’s design team to reflect on the true essence of Mari. What kind of future working environment would she like to work in, to be as dashing, admirable and impressive as all Marimekko products are.
The design work began with the creation of a workplace concept in collaboration with Vitra, a company that manufactures design furniture. The development process included workshops involving both users and management to determine which teams would benefit from being close to each other, what space needs teams had, how Marimekko employees envisioned their future workspace, and what message the visual design should convey.
The building hosts various stakeholders who are taken on tours through different areas, including the printing room, where Marimekko fabrics are still produced. The focus of the design was on functionality, emphasizing seamless cooperation between the different work processes, studio, and logistics. Additionally, the building’s visual story and the iconic Marimekko identity were key themes throughout the project.
The colors and patterns of Marimekko, specifically its products, served as inspiration for the visual design. The goal was to let the products take center stage in the space. As a minimalist accent, different shades of white, gloss levels, and textures were used, with contrast added through black tones. Large mirror surfaces were also incorporated to reflect the beautiful patterns more richly. The natural surfaces of wood and concrete bring warmth to the space while maintaining the industrial feel of the building.
The theme of the spatial design became “the neighborhood.” The open space is divided by various “buildings” representing different areas of the village. Streets and pathways function as routes that guide movement through the workspace. The neighborhood is characterized by village-like behaviors—people visit each other, have coffee, and brainstorm new patterns amidst a lively, community-filled environment. The strong sense of belonging among Marimekko employees further reinforced this neighborhood concept.
The neighborhood was designed with open and separate spaces without overly isolating them from other users. A main pathway runs through the space, used by client groups heading to the textile printing area. The distinctive wall surfaces of the “buildings” add vitality to the views and provide various attachment and display surfaces. These buildings offer different functions, from drop-in rooms and meeting rooms to test stores.
At the heart of the new work environment is a work café, surrounded by test stores, showrooms, drop-in workstations, a town hall -seating staircase, and meeting rooms. The work café serves as the hub for both internal staff activities and events for invited guests. Additionally, the café transforms into a venue for fashion shows, where the catwalk route loops around the open staircase, with the audience seated on the outer edges. The centerpiece of the space, a large island, was placed in the middle of the room and acts as the heart of the kitchen, inviting people to gather.
“The special characteristic of the Marimekko work community is the sense of belonging—the Marispirit—which creates a unique trait in design, work methods, and thinking, and is tangibly present in everything we do. This is why we felt it was important to create attractive and inspiring future workspaces that encourage creativity.”
– Nunnu Kotilainen, Project Manager, Interior Architecture, Workspace.
