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Ruohonjuuri Helsinki city center flagship store

Ruohonjuuri Helsinki city center flagship store, New Finnish retail architecture photos, Finland shop

Ruohonjuuri Helsinki city center flagship store news

21 April 2022

Design: Design Office Amerikka

Location: Mannerheimintie 7, Helsinki, Finland

Photos by Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres

Ruohonjuuri new flagship store in Helsinki city center, Finland

Green retailer Ruohonjuuri’s new flagship store in an historical bank venue is a pioneer project of sustainable renovation heralding change for Helsinki’s city centre

Design Office Amerikka developed a proprietary process, that diminished Ruohonjuuri flagship store’s carbon footprint by15%

Ruohonjuuri’s new flagship store in Helsinki city center is a pioneer project by Finnish Design Office Amerikka for building renovation and modernisation. Founded by group of local environmentally-aware young people in 1982, Ruohonjuuri is the biggest Finnish green retailer specialising in organic food, natural cosmetics and health products.

The company has a track record of looking for innovative and eco-efficient solutions, particularly when the stores undergo refurbishment. Amerikka offers sustainable interior and architectural design services as well as consultancy and has been Ruohonjuuri´s partner since 2015. For the new flagship, as an innovative move, the carbon footprint of this project was calculated during the design phase.

The lifespan of the store was also set at 10 years, instead of the 3–5 years that’s typical for retail spaces. Helsinki city center is facing a new era after the pandemic. The traditional city center operators such as banks and fast fashion retail concepts are moving out and replaced with new types of responsible retail businesses.

“Lots of businesses produce sustainability strategies that do an excellent job of accounting for the environmental impact of their offices and supply chains. What’s still often overlooked is the fact that building work is responsible for a vast proportion of our carbon emissions. So it’s those emissions that businesses that are serious about sustainability will need to take this into account when designing and building their offices and commercial spaces,” notes Sami Maukonen, CEO at Amerikka.

Part of the challenge is the lack of off-the-peg carbon emissions calculation methods suitable for use on renovation and interior architecture projects. To address this issue, Amerikka developed its own proprietary process that allows these impacts to be calculated accurately. With this method, Ruohonjuuri’s flagship store’s carbon footprint is 15% smaller than expected. The total lifespan of a store has a huge impact on overall carbon emissions.

There is often pressure within the retail sector for premises to be frequently updated, which can result in building work being carried out when it’s not really needed. At Ruohonjuuri’s flagship store, every effort has been made to reduce the need for frequent refurbishment and upgrades by opting for flexible, modular design solutions and high-quality and durable materials. The main materials are Finnish spruce, cork, brick, linoleum, and steel.

Spanning a total of 700 sqm, Ruohonjuuri’s new flagship store is located at Mannerheimintie 7, a historic property designed by architect Armas Lindgren in 1914. The premises were previously occupied by Nordea bank. The building’s original historic features have been retained wherever possible and changes have been made only where they have been critical to delivering an extended lifespan for the store. The office spaces are furnished using existing furniture, while the shopfittings are designed by Amerikka and sourced from Finnish manufacturers.

“The past few years have shown us that when you have a strong concept, you will do well, even in a challenging climate. In Helsinki, traditional city centre operators, like banks, are starting to give way to responsible retail businesses. I like to think that there is a strong, diverse and vibrant future in store for Helsinki’s city centre,” Maukonen says.

The Ruohonjuuri flagship store will also be used to pilot new retail concepts. As the company’s offices are located on the same premises, customer feedback and other insights can be shared seamlessly and effortlessly between teams.

“Sustainable building means creating attractive, appealing spaces for shoppers and staff where the design serves the intended function. Ruohonjuuri’s customers are driven by a shared set of values, which is why we have chosen to put the social dimension front and centre in our design. The new store is ideally set up to offer a whole new range of in-store services too,” Maukonen explains.

Design Office Amerikka

Founded in 2004, Amerikka offers interior and architectural design services as well as consultancy on regional development projects. Amerikka is committed to working closely with both end-users and property developers to deliver truly client-centred design.

All Amerikka’s work is informed by the latest research and data and draws on genuine creative expertise and the latest industry tools and methods. Amerikka’s previous projects feature some of Helsinki’s most high-profile retail concepts, including Kampin Kortteli, Bank, Gillet Bistro & Bar and the newly renovated Kaivopiha. Currently Amerikka is working on the project to refurbish and repair Helsinki’s historic main railway station, design by Eliel Saarinen and opened in 1909.

Ruohonjuuri

Ruohonjuuri is a retailer specialising in organic food, natural cosmetics, health products and wellbeing. Every one of our products represents a better choice for the planet and people. We currently have 16 stores in Finland along with our online shop. International shoppers can visit us at ruohonjuuri.com and at happyfoodstore.se.

Images: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres

Ruohonjuuri Helsinki city center flagship store images / information received 210422

+358 3 06219010

Location: Mannerheimintie 7, Helsinki, Finland, north east Europe

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