architects ville hara & anu puustinen






Finland may only be a country of 5.4 million people, but it produces some amazing architecture and design. Even withstanding its size and population. Take this garden shed by Avanto Architects for Kekkilä Garden. It was co-designed with Linda Bergroth, and the model you see pictured above is one she adapted for her summer house. The duo who founded Avanto are Ville Hara and Anu Puustinen. Among their award-winning projects are some churches and chapels like you've never seen before.


Which five words best describe you? Young, sensitive, responsible, innovative, ambitious.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? Avanto Architects was established in 2004 after Ville Hara and Anu Puustinen won an open competition for the design of the St Lawrence cemetery chapel. Since then the office has successfully participated in a wide range of competitions in Finland and abroad, winning second prize in the Tsunami Memorial International Design Competition in Khao Lak, Thailand in 2006, for instance. The work of Avanto Architects is featured extensively in leading architecture magazines in Finland and overseas and has been displayed in several exhibitions. The most noteworthy accolades of the office include a Bryggman Prize for young architects and interior designers and two separate nominations for the Mies van der Rohe Prize.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? You cannot please everybody if you try to achieve something new in architecture.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Bringing projects successfully to the end. Like chapel where it took eight years.

What’s been your best decision? Start your own office.

Who inspires you? Everything we have around from nature to city life.

What are you passionate about? Sauna and avanto swimming!

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Michel Foucault

What dream do you still want to fulfil? Live a life in peace and harmony with other people and nature.

What are you reading? Mostly professional books.


images courtesy of avanto architects and arsi ikaheimonen via yellowtrace

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