PES-Architects

16/10/2026

We’re delighted to share that the Nanjing Sino-Finnish Culture and Exchange Centre has been selected for the Archello Awards 2026 Longlist in two categories: Mixed Use Building of the Year and Architecture & Glass Award!

The Sino-Finnish Cooperation and Exchange Centre is a 210,000 sqm low-carbon, mixed-use complex in Nanjing South New Town, China, combining cultural, conference, exhibition, hotel and office functions.

The architecture draws on the concept of breaking ice, expressing cultural dialogue through ice crystal-inspired fragmented volumes with prismatic double-skin façades that support passive heating and cooling.

We're grateful to be included on the longlist alongside other inspiring projects and look forward to the announcement of the finalists in November.

📷 1-2 D**G Image, 3 ARCH-ZOOM Studio

15/10/2026

At the heart of Turku Music Centre Fuuga, the spruce-clad concert hall is conceived as an instrument in its own right. Form, material and sound merge into a single experience, creating an intimate, immersive environment that embraces the audience and orchestra both acoustically and visually.

The hall follows the traditional shoebox form, with an enhanced seating layout that improves sightlines to the stage and brings the audience closer to the musicians. Acoustic clarity is balanced with a rich, enveloping reverberation. The double-curved balcony fronts are designed to reflect sound evenly throughout the audience as well as back to the orchestra.

Variable acoustic curtains and adjustable stage elements, including an orchestra pit, allow the space to adapt to different performance formats, both acoustic and amplified.

The Turku Philharmonic Orchestra moved into its long-awaited new home this week and are currently testing and fine-tuning the room acoustics together with Chief Conductor John Storgårds and acoustician Eckhard Kahle. 🎶

📷 Marc Goodwin

12/10/2026

The renewed western entrance to the Kamppi metro station opened in Helsinki today. The entrance and ticket hall are now integrated into the new Kamppi Health and Well-being Centre, to open next spring.

12/10/2026

12/10/2026

Yle visited Turku Music Centre Fuuga ahead of its opening on 26 October.

Pääsaliin mahtuu noin 1 300 katsojaa ja pienempään Ateljeesaliin noin 300.

12/10/2026

12/10/2026

We're excited to finally share glimpses of the interior of Turku Music Hall Fuuga – Turun musiikkitalo Fuuga! 🌟

In contrast to the jagged sawtooth forms of the exterior copper facade, forming a protective building envelope, the concert hall interior's gently flowing, acoustically optimised shapes create an intimate space carved from solid Finnish spruce.🌲

The double-curved balcony front elements are more than 80mm thick to provide for sufficient acoustic mass, CNC-milled to precision by Raision Puusepät. True to the "form follows function" design principle, every shape and contour serves an acoustic purpose, contributing to the hall's sound quality. 🎶

Last image - installation of the balcony elements underway a year ago.

📷 Marc Goodwin

Musiikkitalo Fuuga Turun kaupunki - Åbo stad - City of Turku Turun filharmoninen orkesteri | Turku Philharmonic Orchestra Hartela WSP Finland

11/10/2026

On the deck just over the entrance lobby, the kinetic artwork Ensemble by artist duo Grönlund-Nisunen moves and flickers in the wind, its polished stainless steel elements catching the light as they rotate. The work was inspired by the music flowing through the music centre and the adjacent Aura River.

The work was commissioned for Fuuga through an open portfolio call.

The artworks at Fuuga are part of the WAM Turku City Art Collection.

📷 Marc Goodwin

11/10/2026

Art is an essential part of the visitor experience at Turku Music Center Fuuga. Works are located both inside and outside the building for everyone to enjoy, not just event audiences.

A familiar work greets visitors on the entrance plaza: Soihtu (Torch), a bronze fountain sculpture by Terho Sakki dating from 1975. The sculpture also previously stood on the site of Independence Square, now occupied by Fuuga.

The artworks at Fuuga are part of the WAM Turku City Art Collection.

📷 Marc Goodwin

09/10/2026

Yle visited the renewed western entrance to Kamppi metro station together with chief designer Tuomas Silvennoinen.

Maanantaina aukeaa vastaremontoitu Kampin toinen metrosisäänkäynti. Yle pääsi kurkistamaan, miltä metroasemalla näyttää.