Fiskars Group Campus
For almost 400 years, Finland’s oldest company has been combining timeless design with innovative craftsmanship, and the new head office perfectly reflects that rich heritage. We are visiting Fiskars Group Campus, which is the new home of Alvar Aalto’s iconic vases, the beloved Moomin mugs and the classic scissors, with more than 1 billion pairs sold.
‘Fiskars Group, est 1649’ reads the sign that greets us as we arrive in Espoo, just outside Helsinki. The new head office, located 80 km east of Fiskars Village, is the base for a large number of international brands, producing products that can be found in kitchen drawers and sheds throughout the world.
For Fiskars Group, design and quality have always formed the core of the business, and when industrialisation came to Finland in the early 1800s the company was the first in the country to install a steam engine and pursue large-scale production of knives and forks. The ability to combine innovation and design has made Fiskars Group a world leader within its segment, and today the group includes brands such as Arabia, Hackman, Iittala, Royal Copenhagen and Rörstrand.
With 400 years of history behind it and its gaze firmly fixed on the future, the company has invested in Fiskars Group Campus. The new building is a workplace for 400 employees and serves as a shop window for the group’s global activities. It is also a celebration of heritage, showcasing everything from Moomin mugs featuring Tove Jansson’s popular motifs and Alvar Aalto’s renowned vases to the classic scissors that have sold over a billion pairs.
12,000 m2 of design
The first thing that strikes us about this 12,000 m2 building is the impressive ceiling height and the huge range of iconic products on display. The familiar porcelain, glass and kitchen utensils remind us that products from Fiskars Group are part of our everyday lives.
As we ascend the staircase in the building we pass a homage to the Fiskars orange-handled scissors from 1967. The artwork is made up of hundreds of ceramic replicas, and at its base a cube in the signature colour of the scissors. Since 2008, the colour has been patented, and today this classic kitchen utensil is included in the Museum of Modern Arts’ permanent collection in New York.
On the first floor we find Kitchen 1649, which is the in-house restaurant. The chairs here were made at the Fiskars Village by Nikari, and unsurprisingly lunch is served on porcelain from Iittala. It is an experience that exudes Finnish design, and which is enhanced by vases and tableware from the brands’ own collections. Every single detail is part of the meticulous interior design concept.
It’s no secret that design and craftsmanship lie at the heart of these products. These are elements that have remained relevant over the centuries, and play a prominent role throughout Fiskars Group Campus.
“First and foremost, the building represents the company’s brands and values. We chose to involve our employees in the interior design concept and focused on sustainable materials. Glass, ceramics and wood, which have always been a part of the group’s history, were naturally important elements. The company’s own products were crucial for tying together the interiors in a natural way,” says Anni Ojanen, lead interior architect and Head of Interior Design at Futudesign.
Following our visit to the restaurant, we continue up to the office and conference floors, which offer a variety of environments. Spontaneous meeting places, conference rooms and open-plan office areas are joined by a test kitchen and a workshop that bring a new dimension to employees’ work.
“The interiors have been designed to reflect the innovative approach that the company is founded on. Modern workspaces and specially designed premises create competitive advantages, and Fiskars Group greatly values that,” says Kristiina Rämö, Account Manager at Input interior.
We don’t need to go far from the workshop to find the next unconventional touch. Together with Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Fiskars Group has curated an art installation that aims to inspire its employees, no matter whether they work with design and colours or in administration and logistics.
The final stop on our tour is the top floor, which is wholly dedicated to employee wellbeing. It has a yoga studio and gym, along with a café and roof terrace. Boasting views of the bay at Espoo, we note that Fiskars Group Campus is something rather special.
Forward-looking business
Fiskars is aiming for the majority of its net sales to come from circular products and services by 2030. Its stated objective of ‘pioneering design against throwaway culture’ has become a guiding factor for both product development and interior design at the new office.
“By working with natural materials that have a long useful life and reusing existing furniture we have made the climate issue a key area of focus. It’s a mindset that has characterised the entire project, and not least the choice of furnishings. Together with Input interior, we have found and incorporated products that will be used for many decades to come and, if necessary, reconditioned over time,” concludes Anni Ojanen.
About Fiskars Group
Since it was first founded in 1649, Fiskars Group has been developing products with timeless and functional elegance, while innovation and sustainability have remained at the core of the business. Today, Fiskars Group is a global group of design-driven brands, which include Fiskars, Gerber, Iittala, Royal Copenhagen, Moomin from Arabia, Waterford and Wedgwood. These brands are united by a common purpose: ‘Pioneering design to make the everyday extraordinary’.
About Futudesign
Helsinki-based Futudesign was founded in 2012 and has since made a name for itself within building and interior architecture with projects involving hotels, restaurants, offices and museums. Its projects employ a holistic approach, with every detail interacting to achieve optimum results. In spring 2023, Futudesign was named winner of the prestigious award Interior Architecture Agency of the Year by the Finnish Association of Interior Architects (SIO).
