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o p u s

OPUS Architecture is a Helsinki-based architecture practice, established in 2017 by Matias Kotilainen, Tuomas Martinsaari and Paul Thynell. The founding partners studied architecture at Aalto University in Finland and have worked together closely since 2013.

 

The practice is focused on building design and urban planning. In every project, we primarily aspire to create and develop an architecturally sound, functional and durable built environment. We believe that these goals are best achieved through active collaboration with all the participants and experts involved in each project and in all stages of the process.

 

The questions about the fundamentals of architecture act as the fulcrum of our process. We see architecture as a symbiosis of specificity and generality, and in each project we seek to find an apt balance of the two. The ‘general’ supports flexibility, future iterations and uses, provides for structural economy and construction logic. The ‘specific’ creates possibilities for making places out of spaces, that act as anchors of memory and contribute to the preservation of the built environment. We believe that durability and sustainability are all-encompassing values that include more than mere technological solutions.

 

OPUS utilizes the latest BIM tools in design. The office has competence in harnessing the potential of the latest technology in diverse ways in each and every level of the project. We also test ideas using scale models and the office frequently employs modern techniques, including 3D-printing and laser cutting in addition to traditional methods.

 

OPUS shares their knowledge on building and architecture through public lectures and teaching at Aalto University Department of Architecture. The office is a member of ATL The Association of Finnish Architects’ Offices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORKS

 

Meri-Rastila education center

School and daycare center in Meri-Rastila, Helsinki.

11 750 brm2 multipurpose educational building.

Competition. 1st prize. Ongoing. 2024–

 

Affordable daycare concept

Affordable daycare building concept for the City of Oulu.

Commission. Ongoing. 2024–

 

Oulu museum and science center

Museum and science center in Myllytulli, Oulu.

9 540 brm2 museum building.

Competition. 1st prize. Ongoing. 2022–

In collaboration with Simon Mahringer.

 

Koksikortteli

Hospitality and office block in Kalasatama, Helsinki.

Commission. Ongoing. 2023–

In collaboration with ARCO Architecture Company.

 

Extension for Autotalo

Office building as an extension for Autotalo quarter in Kamppi, Helsinki.

8 850 brm2 office and commercial building.

Competition. Completed. 2023–2024.

 

Vaunukuja infill plan

Infill plan for a plot in Vantaa for two new apartment buildings.

Commission. Completed. 2022–2023.

 

House B

Private single family house in Kauniainen.

Commission. Ongoing. 2022–

In collaboration with Simon Mahringer.

 

Kankaan Suvanto urban plan

Urban planning for the zoning process for Kangas, Jyväskylä.

Competition. 1st prize. Completed. 2022–2024.

In collaboration with Simon Mahringer.

 

Sara Hildén museum of modern art

Museum of modern art in historic Finlayson area, Tampere.

5 500 brm2 art museum building.

Consultancy. Concluded. 2022–2023.

Janne Hovi Architects, in collaboration with OPUS.

 

Vallila densification study

Urban densification plan for former industrial area of Vallila, Helsinki.

Commission. Completed. 2021-2022.

 

Kuninkaantammi school and daycare

School and daycare center in Kuninkaantammi, Helsinki.

4 900 brm2 multipurpose educational building.

Competition. 1st prize. Built. 2020–2023.

 

Redevelopment of Kontula city center

Urban redevelopment plan for the center of historic suburb of Kontula, Helsinki.

Competition. 1st prize. Ongoing. 2020–

 

Redevelopment of Lapinlahti hospital area

Urban redevelopment plan for historic Lapinlahti hospital area, Helsinki.-

Competition. 1st prize. Completed. 2019–2020.

In collaboration with Ark-byroo ltd. & Architects Soini & Horto ltd.

 

Housing block in Postipuisto area, district 17123

New housing block in Pohjois-Pasila, Helsinki.

Commission. Completed. 2019.

 

Hakaniemenranta, district 11205-11207

Urban infill block planning in Hakaniemi, Helsinki.

Commission. Completed. 2018.

In collaboration with Benjamin Schulman, Veera Tolvanen & Matti Wäre.

 

Jakomäen Sydän

Primary school and daycare center in Jakomäki, Helsinki.

10 990 brm2 multipurpose educational building.

Competition. 1st prize. Built. 2017–2021.

In collaboration with Auer & Sandås architects ltd.

 

Myllykoski parish center

Parish center in Myllykoski, Kouvola.

650 brm2 assembly building.

Competition. 1st prize. Built. 2016–2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMPETITIONS

 

1. prize

School and daycare center in Meri-Rastila, Helsinki

two phased open architecture competition 2024

 

5. prize

Carthage Museum & Rehabilitation of Byrsa Hill, Tunisia

open international architecture competition 2023

in collaboration with Anis Souissi

 

1. prize

Museum and science center in Oulu

open architecture competition 2023

in collaboration with Simon Mahringer

 

purchase prize (proposal "Enemmän kuin")

School and library in Karhula, Kotka

open architecture competition 2022

 

purchase prize (proposal "Podium")

School and library in Karhula, Kotka

open architecture competition 2022

 

1. prize

Urban plan for Kankaan Suvanto, Jyväskylä

open architecture competition 2022

in collaboration with Simon Mahringer

 

purchase prize

Urban plan for Kankaan Suvanto, Jyväskylä

open architecture competition 2022

in collaboration with Simon Mahringer

 

honorary mention

Urban plan for Kankaan Suvanto, Jyväskylä

open architecture competition 2022

in collaboration with Simon Mahringer

 

shared 3. prize (proposal “Metsän varrella”)

Kindergarten in Taka-Töölö, Helsinki

open two-phased architecture competition 2021

 

shared 3. prize (proposal “Jean”)

Kindergarten in Taka-Töölö, Helsinki

open two-phased architecture competition 2021

in collaboration with landscape architect Veera Tolvanen

 

honorary mention

Museum of modern art in historic Finlayson area, Tampere

open international architecture competition 2021

 

3. prize

Multi-purpose town hall and market place in Kärdla, Estonia

open international architecture competition 2021

in collaboration with Inphysica Technology

 

1. prize

Primary school and daycare center in Kuninkaantammi, Helsinki

limited two-phased architecture competition 2020

 

1. prize

Urban redevelopment plan for Kontula city center, Helsinki

invited architecture competition 2020

 

1. prize

Urban redevelopment plan for historic Lapinlahti hospital area, Helsinki

two-phased open idea competition 2020

in collaboration with Ark-byroo ltd. & Architects Soini & Horto ltd.

 

honorary mention

Urban development plan for Töölöntori, Helsinki

open architecture competition 2020

 

3. prize

Urban infill plan for Lappeenranta

open architecture competition 2019

 

purchase prize

Urban infill plan for Sastamala

open architecture competition 2019

 

honorary mention

Housing in Meri-Rastila, Helsinki

open architecture competition 2019

 

purchase prize

Culture center in Viimsi, Estonia

open international architecture competition 2018

 

2. prize

Urban infill plan for Hakaniemenranta, Helsinki

open architecture competition 2018

in collaboration with Benjamin Schulman, Veera Tolvanen & Matti Wäre

 

purchase prize

Theatre in Old Town of Tallinn, Estonia

open international architecture competition 2018

 

3. prize

Art museum extension in Tampere

open architecture competition 2017

 

1. prize

Primary school and daycare center in Jakomäki, Helsinki

invited architecture competition 2017

in collaboration with Claudia Auer

 

2. prize

Housing in Suomenlinna, Helsinki

open architecture competition 2017

in collaboration with Matti Wäre

 

3. prize

Urban plan for Jyväskylä

open architecture competition 2017

 

1. prize

Parish center in Myllykoski

open architecture competition 2016

in collaboration with Matti Wäre

 

2. prize

Parish center in Myllykoski

open architecture competition 2016

in collaboration with Benjamin Schulman & Matti Wäre

 

3. prize

Parish center in Myllykoski

open architecture competition 2016

in collaboration with  Matti Wäre

 

purchase prize

Primary school in Jätkäsaari, Helsinki

two-phased open architecture competition, finalist 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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