Designed for life – the story of Reima’s new office
Reima’s new headquarters are located in Helsinki’s Vallila district, inside the historic Kravattitehdas building.
IT ALL BEGAN with a set of Danish dining chairs. When Heikki Lempinen moved into his first home, he inherited them from his grandmother – timeless pieces later identified as classics by Danish designer Poul Cadovius, though neither of them knew it back then.
That practical, generous gesture grew into a love of collecting design: from auction rooms to online marketplaces, Heikki has searched for objects with a story. “There’s a certain thrill. You scroll and scroll, and then suddenly the perfect piece appears,” he says.
Since 2024, Heikki has led the Finnish children’s brand Reima. Fittingly, some of his treasured finds have now found a place in Reima’s new offices in Vallila, Helsinki.
The spacious, loft-like interior and the natural light streaming through the large windows give the space room to shine. The striking paper shade is from HAY.
The mix of old and new brings a sense of depth to the interior and is perfectly in tune with the historic spirit of the Kravattitehdas building. The Martta sofa is by Lepo Product.
The white Eames DSR chairs were sourced with the help of Finnish Design Shop’s Trade & Contract Sales team through the Vitra Circle for Contract service.
A new life for an old textile house
Founded in 1944 in Kankaanpää, Reima has grown into a leading premium performance wear brand for active children, celebrating its remarkable 80th anniversary last year. The company’s new headquarters in the historic Kravattitehdas building feels like a natural continuation of its long story.
Yet the atmosphere is anything but old-fashioned. Spacious loft-like rooms, generous windows, and industrial details set the stage for an interior designed by Helsinki-based studio Fyra, with interior architects Kreetta Airila, Sisko Anttalainen, and Niina Sihto leading the project.
“The starting point for the design was Reima’s long history, its values, and above all, its customers: children,” Kreetta explains. “Reima is about letting children do, be seen, and simply be. Since children visit the offices for fittings and events, the furniture and materials had to be durable enough to handle play.”
Reima’s office is furnished almost entirely with vintage pieces, completed by a selection of new additions. Artek's colorful Atelier chairs make a perfect match with the pre-loved Aalto table.
In the stylish yet relaxed offices, both employees and clients feel at home.
Reima’s extensive photo archives also came into play. For example, a large wallpaper mural for the coffee area was created from the archival images.
Sustainable thinking and ethical aesthetics
Fyra approaches every project with circular principles in mind: what can be reused, which existing elements are worth retaining, and what can be sourced second-hand instead of new. “Good design doesn’t mean everything has to be brand new,” notes Kreetta. “Time only improves well-made pieces – and you can always reupholster or repaint them if needed.”
At Reima, this mindset took clear, practical form: around three-quarters of the furnishings were sourced pre-owned.
Heikki adds that the history of the Kravattitehdas building also played a key role in the choices. “In a former textile factory, we wanted to bring a certain character to the interior,” he says. “I had already planned to bring in some of my own pieces, and the rest were sourced through Finnish Design Shop’s Trade & Contract Sales.”
Some of the furniture came from Heikki’s personal collection, others through Finnish Design Shop, and the remaining pieces were discovered via Vitra Circle for Contract or traditional treasure hunting on vintage platforms.
The vintage dining chairs gifted by his grandmother sparked Heikki Lempinen’s passion for collecting design treasures. The passion is now visible in every corner of Reima’s new headquarters. Image: Paavo Lehtonen
The new furniture was also chosen with sustainability in mind. Artek’s chairs are made to last, as their webbing can be replaced when worn. Above the table, Ingo Maurer's pendant brings a cheerful pop of red that echoes Reima’s signature color.
The ABCs of color
The color palette of Reima’s new headquarters draws from the Bauhaus principles, built around the three primary colors – red, yellow, and blue – balanced by a softer, natural backdrop.
“Primary colors are a bit like the alphabet of color theory,” Kreetta explains. “Think of children’s first toys: they learn about color and shape at the same time. It was fun to use that same logic in this project.”
The palette also tied beautifully into pieces from Heikki’s personal collection and Reima’s signature red. At the heart of the space stand a pair of Vico Magistretti’s Sindbad lounge chairs designed for Cassina, upholstered in a deep red fabric that, by happy coincidence, perfectly matches Reima's logo.
The Sindbad armchairs, upholstered in Reima red fabric, are designed by Vico Magistretti.
Joy and play shine through in the furniture and décor, just as they do in Reima’s products. The sofa is Artek’s Kiki, available in different sizes and upholstery options. The cheerful Loop hook is by Arkivé Atelier.
Beauty in imperfection
Today, the true skill of interior architects often lies in working gracefully with what already exists, even elements they might not have chosen themselves. “Sometimes a space asks you to stretch your sense of aesthetics,” says Kreetta, referring to the vinyl flooring that was already in place, which was jokingly nicknamed the “gym parquet” by Heikki.
Rather than replace a perfectly serviceable surface, Fyra shifted the focus. “We chose to invest in function and furniture instead of a flawless finish.”
It turned out to be the right decision. With so many thoughtful details, the eyes rarely linger on the floor. Visitors are drawn instead to the light, the furniture, the refined details, and the playful use of archival images from Reima’s history, woven beautifully throughout the space.
The shades of Yrjö Kukkapuro’s rocking chair complement not only Reima’s brand identity but also the interior’s Bauhaus-inspired color palette.
Charming details, like vintage photographs, can be found throughout the office. The floor lamp is Parentesi by Flos.
The yellow-painted piping is another example of an aesthetic compromise: since it couldn’t be hidden, it was decided to highlight it instead.
A place made for people
According to Kreetta, collaboration with Finnish Design Shop’s Trade & Contract Sales and Johanna Lindberg was exceptionally smooth from start to finish. “Johanna read the plans carefully and offered exactly what was needed, not whatever happened to be available,” she says. “Prices and timelines held, and information flowed seamlessly throughout the project.”
Heikki also applauds the ease of working together: “We combined my own finds, Finnish Design Shop’s selection, and Fyra’s design. The result is both new and lived-in.”
Today, life has settled naturally into the Kravattitehdas offices: children come in for fittings, employees gather for coffee breaks, and sunlight pours through the tall windows. “Everyone’s been delighted – staff, clients, visitors. It simply feels good to be here,” Heikki says.
For the Fyra team, that’s the best kind of feedback: when a space feels genuinely like home and people truly enjoy being in it.
Published on 31 Oct, 2025
