Newil&Bau Turns Five

It’s time to celebrate the people whose creativity and courage leave a mark on generations to come. Together, we are building a more beautiful world to live in — one building at a time.

Thank you to our remarkable designers and artists: Ted Schauman, Fanny Tavastila, Alvar Aalto, Steven Holl, Leena Kouhia, Tommi Toija, Pentti Kareoja, and everyone else who has contributed to creating a more beautiful and sustainable world.

 

Ted Schauman

Ted Schauman is the architect behind Lehtisaari Terrace and Tower. Since 2015, he has led the Danish–Finnish practice Schauman & Nordgren Architects together with Jonas Nordgren, operating in both Helsinki and Copenhagen.
We interviewed Schauman during the Lehtisaari projects, discussing among other things the importance of details — a theme that is also central to our own design philosophy: Newil is in the details. Read Ted’s interview here!

 

 

Fanny Tavastila

Fanny Tavastila is a visual artist who created a unique serigraph as a gift for each of Meander’s 115 residents. The three screens of the serigraph welcome residents in each lobby.
Tavastila’s work is defined by strong use of color, layering, and the delicate dialogue between abstraction and figuration. In recent years, alongside oil painting, she has increasingly worked with serigraphy — the very technique used for Meander’s artworks. Thank you, Fanny, for your beautiful creations and your contribution — they make Meander a deeply layered art experience. Learn more about Fanny’s Meander works in our article.

 

 

Alvar Aalto

Alvar Aalto designed the Insinööritalo (Engineers’ House), completed in 1951 on Ratakatu in Helsinki, as a clubhouse and office building for the Finnish Technicians’ Society.
At Newil&Bau, we had the honor of restoring the building into a residential property, respecting — and drawing inspiration from — Aalto’s original vision. The entrance hall furniture was designed together with Artek Helsinki, the original designer of the A110 “Hand Grenade” lamp.
The building features Aalto’s characteristic ribbon windows and brick surfaces. We are grateful to be part of its multifaceted history — a history that includes, for example, Jimi Hendrix recording a studio session there in 1967 when the building belonged to the Finnish Broadcasting Company.

 

 

Steven Holl

American architect Steven Holl is best known in Finland for designing Kiasma, the Museum of Contemporary Art. The Meander building in Töölö marks the return of his internationally acclaimed architecture to Helsinki.
Holl’s approach begins with the building’s location and surrounding environment. Meander’s shape emerged from the idea of harmoniously integrating the structure into its context: on one end it connects to lower former barracks, on the other to a taller residential building.
Its gently curving form creates a variety of spatial experiences, and practically every apartment is unique. The architectural language was also recognized this year with a nomination for the Finlandia Prize for Architecture.
Watch Steven’s interview here.

 

 

Leena Kouhia

Leena Kouhia is a ceramic artist known for her raw, handcrafted aesthetic and deep material sensitivity. Her popular Raaka Rå ceramic series and artistic projects, such as 100 Wall Roses, express an intuitive, organic process in which clay and maker interact.
For Meander, Leena crafted stunning, unique tableware for the shared spaces — pieces that elevate everything from dinners with friends to quiet coffee breaks on a remote-work day.
In Leena’s words, we share the same values: quality and style. Read more about Leena here.

 

 

Tommi Toija

Tommi Toija is one of Finland’s most renowned sculptors, known especially for his clay and concrete figures that are simultaneously humorous, vulnerable, and slightly melancholic. His sculptures explore human frailty, outsiderhood, and the absurdity of everyday life, and their instantly recognizable expressiveness has made Toija a major figure in contemporary Finnish sculpture.
At 76&Piha, we had the privilege of collaborating with Toija by bringing art not only to residents but also to passers-by: Ainainen Vappu delights everyone who encounters it. Read more about the piece here.

 

 

Pentti Kareoja

Pentti Kareoja is an architect and professor who served as the local chief designer for Meander, responsible for bringing its architectural vision to life.
His uncompromising and solution-oriented design work enabled the realization of this exceptional building in all its detail. Kareoja is a founding member of ARK-House Architects and also teaches at Aalto University.
In addition to numerous residential buildings, his work includes the Viikki Campus Library, the Vuosaari Seamen’s Centre, and several educational institutions in Arabianranta.
Watch Pentti’s interview on designing Meander here.

 

 

Thank you to all our partners, stakeholders, followers, and above all, our customers, who have made this journey possible. We promise that the next five years will be just as extraordinary.
More will be revealed this spring, when we share how we will take the living experience to an entirely new level.
Join N&B Family to be among the first to hear more — and become part of the story.

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