The legacy of Modernism brought to life at the renewed Tampere City Hall

Designed by Aarne Ervi, Tampere City Hall has undergone a comprehensive renewal that preserves the distinctive character of the protected building while updating its spaces to meet contemporary needs. A new extension alongside the former municipal office building and a light-filled lobby connecting the two opened in June, creating a new meeting place for the people of Tampere.

Located on the edge of Tampere Central Square, the City Hall has been transformed through an extensive renovation into a modern working environment and a welcoming meeting place for local residents. The project included the renovation of the protected municipal office building designed by architect Aarne Ervi, as well as the construction of a new extension facing Puutarhakatu.

ONE Architects was responsible for the principal and architectural design. The interior design, which respects the City Hall’s modernist architectural language, was also created by the firm’s interior architects.

“Our aim was neither to create a replica of the past nor to conceal the building’s history. We wanted to preserve its distinctive characteristics while creating a building that functions naturally as a contemporary city hall,” says Olivier Lemarchand, architect and lead designer at ONE Architects.

Bringing out the strengths of Modernism

Dating from the 1960s, the original municipal office building is characterised by its light-coloured façades, large expanses of glazing and clear, understated architectural expression. As part of the renovation, the façades were restored according to conservation principles, retaining their original appearance as faithfully as possible. The entire external envelope and insulation structures were removed, and new ceramic façade tiles, for example, were manufactured to match the colours and proportions of the originals.

“The building provided exceptionally good conditions for renovation. The generous floor-to-floor height made it possible to integrate modern building services without compromising the key characteristics of the architecture,” Lemarchand explains.

The building’s most significant interiors were also renovated with respect for their original character. Located on the upper floors, the Council Chamber and public gallery were restored while retaining their distinctive appearance. The spaces continue to feature works of art including Birger Kaipiainen’s "Sea of Violets" and Eila Hiltunen’s sculpture "Growth".

“In the Council Chamber and other parts of the original building, the interior design sought to preserve the dignified atmosphere of the original spaces. In the new areas, we adopted a more contemporary, minimalist approach that complements Ervi’s style. In the lobby areas, for example, we favoured surfaces that reflect and distribute natural light deep into the building,” says Anne Hyytiäinen, interior architect at ONE Architects.

The design of Tampere City Council Chamber respects the original 1960s character of the space. The colour palette of the new meeting furniture draws inspiration from Aarne Ervi’s original designs, while the ceiling structure has been recreated in keeping with the original using contemporary solutions and materials. The chamber’s tall window façade overlooks Tampere Central Square, filling the space with natural light.

An extension that represents its own time

Rather than imitating the existing building, the new extension expresses the architecture of its own time. Its most distinctive feature is the glass façade facing Puutarhakatu. Composed of vertical fins in shades of blue, turquoise and green, the appearance of the façade changes according to the light and viewing angle. Visual artist and designer Aino Favén contributed to the design of the façade’s colour palette.

“We did not want to copy the old building. The extension reflects its own time while respecting the original building. It is precisely the contrast between the two that highlights the strengths of each,” Lemarchand says.

The extension’s coloured glass fins also provide solar shading. At street level, the large glazed surfaces of the new building establish a natural dialogue with the architecture of the original building.

The renewed Tampere City Hall consists of two distinct building volumes: a highly glazed contemporary extension and the protected original building, representing Aarne Ervi’s concrete Brutalism of the 1960s and 1970s with its characteristic ribbon windows. The colourful façade gives the building a distinctive landmark quality, while the glazed corner creates an open and lightweight appearance in contrast to the traditional closed urban block. The aim was to give the building a strong identity without introducing major changes to its overall form.

The City Board’s 30-person meeting room is located on the second floor of the extension, behind the façade fins. From the street, light and silhouettes offer passers-by a glimpse of the decision-making taking place inside City Hall. The façade fins also form a distinctive interior design element and can be concealed behind curtains when needed.

A light-filled lobby connects the entire building

One of the most prominent new spaces is the two-storey lobby built between the original building and the new extension. Filled with natural light, the space connects the different parts of the building while also serving as a meeting place for city decision-makers and residents.

The lobby offers views towards both the old and new parts of the building, the upper floors and the courtyard. White spiral staircases lead to the City Board’s meeting rooms, the conference centre and the workspaces of the city’s senior management.

“The lobby was designed as the heart of the building, making the activities of the City Hall more transparent and approachable. From the lobby, you can see at a glance how the different parts of the building connect and gain an understanding of how the City Hall functions,” Lemarchand explains.

A restaurant and event spaces connected to the lobby further strengthen the City Hall’s role as part of the everyday life of Tampere residents.

Alongside the architectural objectives, particular attention was paid to accessibility, energy efficiency and adaptability. The spaces were designed to support contemporary ways of working while preserving the building’s historical value.

“At its best, renovation can make a building’s existing values more visible than before. Our aim was for the City Hall to still feel familiar, while becoming more open, brighter and more functional. I believe we succeeded,” Lemarchand says.

The connecting lobby links the original City Hall building with the new extension. The lobby, which also houses a restaurant, provides access to the building’s various functions: private meeting rooms on the lower floor, meeting and workspaces on the second floor, and the City Board lobby. Glimpses of the courtyard beyond complete the sense of a shared civic space for the people of Tampere.

The ceiling structure extends from the City Board lobby across the connecting lobby and into the meeting spaces behind the wood-clad wall, creating a unifying element between the original building and the new extension. The space serves both as a break area and as a flexible workspace and co-working environment.

1st floor

2nd floor

Building section showing the original building and the new extension.

Photos: Outi Aalto

Further information:

Olivier Lemarchand, architect
+358 44 777 0220
olivier.lemarchand@onearchitects.fi