The architecture of the Finnish Geospatial Research Institute is based on dualism, regarding both landscape and spatial programme. The landscape is divided into protected pinewood forest patch on the northern slope of the site and a residential area on the southern side.

The spatial programme is further divided into regular office rooms and special facilities, including large laboratories and a scientific library. The office rooms were placed on two floors on the more shaded side of the building. Common spaces and laboratories are situated on the southern, street façade side, which provides the building with a distinctive character. This solution provided spaces with a different character with correspondingly different views, the windows of the office rooms face the sunny forest slope, while the common spaces open towards the streets and the rooftop views of small houses and blocks of flats – currently only existing in the plan – through large glass walls.

The street and yard elevations have a clear difference in character. The white street façades consist of bagged lightweight concrete block walls and large, steel-framed glass walls, whereas the yard façade is blue-grey raster facilitating the flexibility of the partition walls between the offices.

The entrance hall is a central element in the interior. It is surrounded by the common spaces: library, auditorium, cafeteria, relaxation area, sauna, and so on. At the end of one wing, there is a guest room for visiting researchers, separated by the car shelter, and at the end of the other wing, there is space reserved for an extension.

The principal architect of the building was Timo Vormala, he was assisted by architects Maaret Pesonen and Aulikki Jylhä. Finnish Geospatial Research Institute was completed in 1996.

Source: Finnish Architectural Review 5/1997