Steven Holl’s Meander is an Architecture Finlandia Award Finalist

Meander, designed by Steven Holl, elevates Finnish residential construction to a new level. The sculptural apartment building is a rare example of holistic architecture, where aesthetics, quality of living, and environmental responsibility are combined in an unprecedented way.

 

Photo by: Angel Gil

Completed at the end of last year on the Taivallahti shoreline in Töölö, Meander has been selected as a finalist for the 2025 Architecture Finlandia Award. In Finland, Holl is best known as the chief designer of the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma. With Meander, Holl’s architectural touch returned to Helsinki after an 18-year wait—this time as a residential building where light, form, and practicality merge into a unique whole. The project was realized through a collaboration between Newil&Bau, Steven Holl Architects, Finnish firm ARK-house Architects, and contractor SSA Rakennus.

 

Photo by: Kuvio Oy, Anders Portman

Curved Beauty

Meander—a 180-meter-long, eight-story masterpiece clad entirely in glass—flows like a river. The curved form is not merely an architectural gesture. Thanks to its shape, every apartment is different, with views opening optimally toward the sea and the sun. The building contains 115 unique apartments, ranging from 22.5 m² studios to a 218.5 m² penthouse. Three spacious, gallery-like entrance halls create a striking first impression.

Residents also enjoy luxurious shared amenities, including a wine cellar, a 12-seat cinema, a spa and sauna complex, a yoga studio, and spaces for parties and remote work. Everyday life is made smoother with clever details such as a mud shower, a bike maintenance station, a storage point for grocery deliveries, a shared Tesla, and Pelago bicycles. Below the building lies an underground garage with 67 parking spaces, electric vehicle charging facilities, and direct elevator access.

 

 

A Total Work of Art Full of Details

Meander is filled with unique details created by Steven Holl and Newil&Bau—for instance, bronze door handles designed specifically for the building, custom-made light fixtures, and even a water bowl for resident dogs. The project exemplifies holistic design, where architecture, interiors, and details form a unified work of art reminiscent of the early 20th-century modernists. The goal was to restore the tradition of designing every element as part of a whole, not as isolated components.

 

Photo by: Kuvio Oy, Anders Portman

Sustainability at the Core

In Meander, sustainability is not just a technical solution but an integral part of the architectural vision. Whereas ecological design is often associated solely with energy efficiency, here it also means long-lasting materials, timeless aesthetics that extend the building’s lifecycle, and a quality of living that encourages residents to cherish the building across generations.

Geothermal heating, solar panels, and smart home automation reduce energy consumption. The building’s operational carbon footprint is only about 10.05 kg CO₂e/m² per year—roughly half that of a conventional apartment building. Its structures are, of course, designed to last over 100 years.

 

Photo by: Jami Kallioväli

Recognition for High-Quality Architecture

ounded by the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA), the Architecture Finlandia Award is granted annually for the design of a significant new building, building complex, or renovation project. Meander has already received several international awards and attracted attention in architectural publications worldwide. Still, being a finalist for the Architecture Finlandia Award is a particularly important recognition, as the award is indisputably Finland’s most prestigious architectural competition.

It is notable that the majority of past nominees have traditionally been public buildings such as schools, libraries, museums, and cultural centers. Meander is a residential building—designed to reshape perceptions of contemporary housing. Being selected among the three to five finalists chosen by the pre-selection jury highlights Meander’s exceptional architectural quality.

The purpose of the Architecture Finlandia Award is to promote appreciation for creative, high-quality architecture and to emphasize its contribution to well-being. First awarded in 2014, the prize is presented each October from among the finalists chosen by SAFA’s pre-selection jury. The 2025 jury members are Professor Matti Sanaksenaho (chair), architects Kirsi Korhonen and Miia-Liina Tommila, and Associate Professor Panu Savolainen. The winner will be announced on October 6.

Explore Meander