The office and residential building of the Kanta-Häme Regional Savings Bank, designed by architect Oiva Kallio, was built on the southern side of the Hämeenlinna Market Square in 1929. In the 1970s and 1980s two fusions of local Savings Banks, resulted in Kanta-Häme Regional Savings Bank, which needed more space from got an extension in the late 1980s. The redevelopment of the property was based on a winning entry by Eeva Kilpiö, Matti Nurmela, Kari Raimoranta and Jyrki Tasa (Architects NRT) in an architecture competition in 1979. Today the premises are housed by Nordea Bank.

One main aim of the design was to preserve at least part of the public service in the old building. This relatively small area was joined to a large banking hall, which was built where the block yard used to be.

Another aim which to shape as work progressed was to preserve the operating potential of the small shops along the street sides of the block. The large banking spaces were concentrated along the main axis of the block, and the flanking facilities at street level were planned for business premises. The middle part of the banking hall, which is nearly ten metres high, is lit by skylights.

From inside the hall, the yellow elevation of the old bank building, which has an apsis, can be seen up to eaves height through the skylights. This upgrades the old rear wall into a key feature of the new interior.

The materials used for the interior are flat white surfaces, with glass bricks, dark green steel structures and polished stone for the floor.

The main material of the new building’s street elevation is brown Taivassalo granite, a colour close to the that of the nearby buildings’ granite surfaces. Opal glass towers have been built at both entrances.

Source: Finnish Architectural Review 1/1988