The building was designed by Teuvo Lindfors and Olavi Maamies in 1962: the existing block was twofold, with one part four stories and the other one story, containing a store. The old store, with a manufacturing plant next door, is being expanded by Studio Puisto to be a five-story mixed-use building, which will feature red brick in search of balance with the nearby historic buildings
Red bricks for the extension of the old Finnish building Merimiehenkatu 20
Merimiehenkatu 20, located on the corner of Merimiehenkatu and Albertinkatu in a Finnish neighbourhood of Helsinki, is the subject of a complex renovation project by Studio Puisto: merge or detach from its distinct "neighbors" dating back to the 1920s and 1960s?
When viewed from the street, Merimiehenkatu 20 appears to take the form of a flat-roofed mass with two light, pavilion-like taller masses above it. The mansard floor is kept as low and light as possible in its look in order to respect the wishes of the neighbouring residents. The main material of the facade is a clean red brick and plaster, with the same color as the older brick facades in the immediate vicinity
The concept of the attic at Merimiehenkatu 20 was developed in order to meet and satisfy the needs of urban community life. In the attic there is also a common room that can be used as a guest room in case of need. Similarly, the attic has access to two roof terraces which support the recreational use that is shared by all residents. These rooftop terraces aim to provide the most versatile communal spaces possible for residents
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