The multipurpose building Riimi, completed last year, has been awarded Turku's Good Building Award 2024. Riimi is a unique building where parish and city services are under the same roof. The architectural design of the building was carried out by ONE Architects.
The multipurpose building Riimi, completed in the Runosmäki district in the spring 2024, has received Turku's Good Building Award, chosen from among four candidates. The annual award, granted by the cityscape working group, aims to highlight high-quality construction and innovative projects that promote a pleasant urban environment. The award was presented at the Brygmann seminar on architecture in Turku on Friday 7.2.2025.
ONE Architects was responsible for Riimi's architectural design. The building is designed with high quality from the exterior to the interior details.
“Riimi respects the modernist architecture of Runosmäki and creates an open, inviting meeting place for all residents of the area. The clean and clear lines of Riimi's architecture reflect the area's 1970s suburban architecture and enrich it with a new layer”, says Turku's cityscape architect Nea Tuominen.
Riimi also received the second most votes and lots of praise from the public in an open vote.
“This great recognition shows that a new kind of village house -like thinking that combines many intended uses is welcome and that people in this area have received it well. The sense of community was also realized in Riimi's design, as an active user group was involved from the beginning”, says the principal designer, architect Jaakob Solla.
In Riimi, the church and, for example, the library are housed under the same roof. The light-colored building blends seamlessly with its surroundings and offers a variety of facilities, including a daycare center, maternity clinic, and family services. It also features a youth center and parish spaces, ranging from church halls to diaconal reception areas. Associations and clubs can also book the spaces for events and concerts.
Riimi consists of four building parts, and the space between is kind of a village market open to all. A library at ground level connects the different parts to each other. Photo: Kuvio / Anders Portman
The architecture respects the design language of the 1970s
Runosmäki has many apartment buildings built in the 1970s, and the district is one of Turku's regional development targets. The starting point for the architecture of Riimi was Turku-based architect Pekka Pitkänen's one-storey school previously located on the same plot.
"We wanted to respect the suburban architecture and design language of the 1970s. Riimi is, for example, a relatively low building compared to the surrounding apartment buildings”, Jaakob Solla says.
In the mainly two-storey building, the church hall and the modern bell tower rises up to 16 metres. The facades alternate between light burnt brick and gold-colored metal parts.
Burnt light brick has been used also in harmonious interiors. Oak veneer surfaces are repeated in interior wall panels and suspended ceiling cladding. ONE Architects was also responsible for Riimi´s interior design.
Riimi has a lot of views from one function to another, which makes it easier to navigate in the building. Photo: Kuvio / Anders Portman
More info:
Jaakob Solla, Lead Architect, Business Area Director, ONE Architects
tel. 040 511 9975
jaakob.solla@onearchitects.fi
Nea Tuominen, Cityscape Architect, City of Turku
tel. 050 430 4908
nea.tuominen@turku.fi
- Developer: KKOY Runosmäki multi-purpose building, the city of Turku and the union of Turku and Kaarina parishes
- Master and architectural design: ONE Architects
- Interior design: ONE Architects
- Garden design: Vireo
- Main contractor: NCC