Skatudden Stora Enso headquarters. Helsinki. Finland. 2020.

Skatudden is a central district in Helsinki, designed as a peninsula separated from the city center by a narrow canal. This is the site of Stora Enso’s new headquarters. The company is one of the world’s largest producers of paper, cardboard, and wood products, and a leading actor in renewable materials and the bioeconomy, with solutions based on timber and biomass.

DIFK participated in the competition for the new headquarters in collaboration with White Arkitekter.

The proposal presents a flagship for carbon-neutral timber construction. A flexible grid structure allows the building to adapt to changing functions and spatial needs over time. Multiple entrances and an open ground floor activate the surrounding area and connect the city to a new public waterfront. Outdoor areas are designed for social use, with integrated measures to increase biodiversity and manage stormwater.

The volume remains low toward the water to harmonize with the harbor environment. A curved building form opens toward a green central atrium where offices and hotel functions meet. The vegetation contributes to a healthy indoor climate and symbolizes Silmu—the connection between people and the forest.

Through extensive use of natural and renewable materials, the building is integrated into the urban fabric and rooted in the site’s natural and cultural history.