IlmoitusAdvert

Published in 4/2025 - Modern Heritage

Article

The Fate of Modern Office Buildings

Helmi Häkkinen

Niittyportti 4, Espoo. The office building at Niittyportti 4 in Espoo, designed by Aarne Ervi, was completed in 1971 as the Kaleva insurance agency headquarters. After the renovation, completed in phases in 2023 and 2025 and designed by PES-Architects, the building is mainly used by Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County and a dental clinic. Photo: Kari Palsila

Without a heritage listing, the preservation or demolition of an office building is up to the property owner. The deciding factor is whether the owner can see beyond an outdated mass of construction.

Would you like to read the full story?

Subscribers have a full access on our website and the digital magazine archive.

Subscribe

Also these might interest you

The Fifty-Year Myth

Article

The Fifty-Year Myth

An often-repeated claim in the media and popular discussions is that 1970s buildings were not designed to last for more than thirty or fifty years. Where did this belief come from? Might there be some truth to it?

How Should the Old Be Complemented?

Article

How Should the Old Be Complemented?

Modern or traditional? We invited three experts to discuss how the debate on architectural styles could be brought to present day. 

How Do You Convert an Office Space into Apartments?

Article

How Do You Convert an Office Space into Apartments?

In the Helsinki capital region alone, there are currently around 50 city blocks’ worth of empty office space. On the other hand, there seems to be a constant demand for housing. Under what preconditions are office spaces converted into apartments?