Led by Nina Wester of Arco Architecture, the renovation of Eckes-Granini's Finnish office in the city of Turku features Rockfon Eclipse acoustic islands in the Circle shape, amongst a range of additional acoustic solutions. The mix not only improved the acoustics but also gave the meeting and staff areas a fresh look that is in line with the brand's identity.
Reflecting Brand Identity in the Office's Design
Eckes-Granini's product portfolio includes a variety of juice brands popular among Finns, such as Mehukatti, Trip, Marli, and Juissi. These juice brands are known for their vibrant, playful, and fresh design. However, the design of its Finnish offices didn't reflect the same spirit.
To align with the brand's identity, the renovation project began with an evaluation of the current office design. “The office interior had an authentic but dated feel. Visitors preferred the conference rooms and lobby and were reluctant to come to the office area during recruitment or visits”, says Wester. Nina Ahlroos, another interior architect from Arco Architecture Company, added that “the interior reflected design from the 1970s to the early 2000s”.
The office refurbishment was divided into three phases, including the renovation of the downstairs meeting rooms and the upstairs offices. “From the start, we observed a lack of community upstairs. Each person had their own oversized office and there was no suitable common breakout area for multiple people”, says Ahlroos. As a result, the initial designs were changed to add a shared break room and showroom upstairs.
Balancing Aesthetics and Function
During the project's design phase, the client had specific requirements for functionality and aesthetics. They wanted improved transparency and acoustics, as well as a playful but high-quality interior design, which the existing premises lacked. Many spaces had outdated features like low-hanging ceilings from the 1970s and standard paneled walls with plastic carpeting.
“We looked for inspiration in Eckes-Granini Finland's values and their vision for the space. The raw materials and shapes used in their juice production were a significant influence. For instance, the application of Rockfon Eclipse acoustic islands in the Circle shape resulted from their desire for organic-shaped acoustic panels”, says Ahlroos.
Eckes-Granini Finland's offices are situated in an industrial area in Pansio, Turku, and this aspect also influenced the interior design.
“While the interior design draws from organic materials, it's essential to remember that the building itself has an industrial character. We aimed to maintain this industrial feel by showcasing the folded sheet metal and building services on the lower floors. Preserving the building's identity is integral to the office refurbishment”, explains Wester.
Conference Rooms with a Twist
Each meeting room at the Eckes-Granini Finland office has its own distinct interior design influenced by the company’s brand illustrations. They’re also named after the group’s juice brands such as Mehukatti, Juissi, Trip, and Brazil.
There’s also a room with an apple orchard theme named Marli as a tribute to the location's history. “The conference room features windows displaying 1970s apple trees to emphasise the original interior. Circular chairs and Rockfon acoustic products suspended from the ceiling are used to highlight the apple tree's shape”, says Wester.
Enhancing Workspace Flexibility and Acoustics
Besides creating open and spacious areas, flexibility was also a priority. They aimed to make future modifications as easy as possible by adding Rockfon Eclipse acoustic islands to the open workspace, main conference rooms, and the staff break room, alongside the traditional suspended ceilings. Rockfon Koral and Rockfon Sonar were also installed to achieve the goal of making 60 to 80 percent of the suspended ceilings and walls acoustic surfaces.
“Despite a few challenges, the installation of the acoustic elements went well for the most part. Some wires on the floating acoustic islands needed slight extensions, but we handled this well. The acoustic islands in the Circle shape were easier to install than the Squares because they didn’t require precise alignment”, says Mikko Tykkyläinen, Unit Manager of Sisustus-Nummi, who installed the acoustic islands.
After the office refurbishment, both designers noticed better acoustics and cleaner indoor air quality within the premises. The client is pleased with the new space, which is evident in how Eckes-Granini Finland's employees now proudly showcase their office to visitors and on social media.
