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Research — 15.6.2026

Protest camps give an example of what genuinely democratic planning could look like

Pijatta Heinonen studied the planning and building practices in three Central-European areas that had originally been occupied by protesters in their recent doctoral dissertation.

Viewpoint — 15.6.2026

urban design

How to design cities that nurture joy

Examining the city through the lens of urban joy reveals the importance of preserving spontaneity, informality and the freedom to use spaces without purpose, argues Merve Ünlü.

Phenomena — 15.6.2026

sustainability

Prototypes lead the way to the low-carbon future

One way to develop carbon-neutral materials is to construct prototypes and demo houses that are built to actual scale. Kristo Vesikansa surveyed the most interesting experiments in Europe.

Viewpoint — 15.6.2026

housing design

Refurbishing the idea of home

Home refurbishments reveal an attitude that playfully underscores daily use and materiality, rather than newly built structures.

Editorial — 15.6.2026

small scale

Close to the ground, eyes on the horizon

Small projects have the potential to act as prototypes for new sustainable technologies and lifestyles. Thus, the Small Interventions issue focuses on the margins of the architectural field and through them explores approaches that could have broader applications.

Editorial — 4.5.2026

oulu

Oulu under construction

To mark Oulu’s year as the European Capital of Culture in 2026, the Finnish Architectural Review dedicates an issue to the current topics related to architecture and urban planning in Oulu.

Phenomena — 28.4.2026

geopolitics

Oodi Library is the opposite of flexibility – ”This is a public, open building for people, it cannot be transformed into an office building”

Finnish libraries are a laboratory for materializing an egalitarian society, says researcher Hossam Hewidy. Daniele Belleri discusses the importance of libraries in national crisis resilience with five architects dedicated to library design.

Case Study — 27.4.2026

built heritage

Forgotten utopia of Linnanmaa campus

The Linnanmaa campus at the University of Oulu is an internationally recognised, significant ensemble of modern architecture that was designed to be modifiable. And yet, the university is now making plans for a new campus elsewhere.

Project Review — 27.4.2026

schools

“Timeless and more relevant than ever” – The new wooden school complements the courtyard on the riverbank

The context-aware architecture of the new wooden school building in Kiiminki is born from a unique structural simplicity, states Matti Lakkala.

Project Review — 27.4.2026

industrial architecture

The beauty of the new Nokia Campus in Oulu lies in precision

The architecture of Nokia’s new campus is as refined as the design work and manufacturing carried out there, writes Lauri Louekari.

Project Review — 22.4.2026

modern architecture

Oulu preserved its modern icon

The Oulu Central Library was extensively renovated after 40 years of use – yet it still looks and feels familiar, writes Helena Hirviniemi.

Project Review — 22.4.2026

industrial heritage

The warehouse lent its shape to a new block

The new service block in Toppilansalmi, Oulu, reminisces the area's former use as a port. The unpretentious and everyday feel of the materials and details suits the industrial nostalgia, muses Johan Lindfors.

Book — 22.4.2026

urban design

Alvar Aalto’s environmental thinking was ahead of its time

There are features in Alvar Aalto's design work that foreshadow later efforts at sustainable design, a new book argues.

Viewpoint — 22.4.2026

oulu

Definitions for Oulu architecture

How does the character of Oulu show up in today’s architecture? We asked architects who are active in varied positions in Oulu to describe the current focuses in their work and the special features of the local working environment.

Phenomena — 20.4.2026

built heritage

What remains of the Oulu School?

The architecture of the Oulu School has been both loved and disparaged. The buildings are now due for refurbishment, and many risk demolition.