Fyra designed the New Nordic School By the Sea with a simplicity that highlights the beauty and craftsmanship in Helsinki, Finland.

The headquarters of the mobile game developer Supercell is located in the new and unique Wood City, a massive wooden structure by Anttinen Oiva Architects built right at the entrance to Helsinki’s Jätkäsaari neighborhood. Fyra was given the task by Supercell Oy to design a kindergarten for the same buildng. The daycare is operated by New Nordic School.

The needs of the user group – kindergarteners – were mapped in workshops run by the children’s architecture school Arkki. The point of the design process was to create a functional space that would support children’s development and inspire creativity, security and joy. To create a homely atmosphere, a large open serving kitchen was built in the shared area. The rest area is designed to be calm and relaxing for nap time, both acoustically and in terms of the feel of the space. The interiors use natural, non-allergenic and genuine hard-wearing materials chosen with kids in mind.

The kindergarten is located just off the Baltic Sea, which is why the sea and nature are strong themes that run through the interior design. The organic design language and the abundant use of wood speak both to the building and its surroundings. Wavy and round fish-like shapes soften the space and add to its playfulness. The animation and illustration studio Piñata created a whole cast of animal characters who adventure around the kindergarten, adding fun little surprises to the space. The wave paintings in the large street-level windows provide protection and privacy from the streets outside.

Design: Fyra
Design Team: Anu Latvala, Elisa Ryhänen-Derret, Niina Sihto
Photography: Riikka Kantinkoski