Finnish Design Shop's new 12,000 m² logistics center will be built in Turku, southwestern Finland. Avanto Architects Ltd will design the facades, and Studio Joanna Laajisto is responsible for the interior. The building will be certified using the prestigious BREEAM environmental certification system.
A NEW 12,000 SQUARE METER logistics center will be built for the Finnish Design Shop in Turku. With its own logistics center, the online store, which sells Finnish and Scandinavian design around the world, prepares for intense growth and wants to ensure fast and easy future deliveries of design products. The logistics center is commissioned by NREP Logicenters, the main designer is Arkkitehtiruutu Oy, specialist in logistics construction, and the developer is YIT. The building will be completed in early autumn 2021.
“For 16 years now, Finnish Design Shop has grown by an average of 40% every year. Our aim is to continue with the same growth rate in the future, and the turnover target set for 2023 totals EUR 109 million. Ambitious goals require even more efficient logistics, since we know that our customers value fast deliveries above all,” says Teemu Kiiski, founder and CEO of Finnish Design Shop.
The logistics center will be built about six kilometers from the center of Turku, close to Turku Airport. The design is guided not only by high-quality architecture that suits the environment, but also by sustainable development, which is taken into account in all choices. The facades for the building will be designed by the internationally acclaimed agency Avanto Architects Ltd, whose references include the famous sauna and restaurant building Löyly in Hernesaari, Helsinki.
The aim is to obtain the second highest rating in the BREEAM environmental rating system, Excellent, for the logistics center. So far, this rating has been awarded to only two logistics buildings in Finland.
“In addition to premium-class architecture, it is particularly important to us that the building meets the requirements of Finnish Design Shop's sustainability program.”
“In addition to premium-class architecture, it is particularly important to us that the building meets the requirements of our sustainability program. That is why we emphasize energy efficiency: the building is heated with geothermal energy and electricity is generated by an in-house solar power plant. Furthermore, sustainable development has been taken into account even in the smallest details. The aim is to preserve as many trees as possible on the plot during the construction phase in order to keep the environment pleasant and enable the logistics center to blend into the forested environment,” says Teemu Kiiski.
The logistics center will house Finnish Design Shop’s headquarters and new office premises for Turku office employees. The interior of the building will be designed by Studio Joanna Laajisto, known in particular for high-quality interior design of offices and restaurants. Finnish Design Shop's own showroom will also be opened in the same premises.
“Sustainable development has been the key theme in interior design as well, and we pay special attention to the interior being pleasant and comfortable for users. Interior designer Joanna Laajisto and her team are in charge of designing the office premises and their vision will elevate them to a whole new level. We will also open our own showroom adjacent to the logistics center, in line with the long term wishes of our customers. We will tell more about the concept next spring,” says Teemu Kiiski.
Edit: Design Stories Images: Avanto Architects