Soiva, meaning resonance or music, is a building specifically designed for music production. It houses two music schools, one teaching rhythm music and the other classical music. These institutions offer programs for children’s play schools, amateur enthusiasts, and professional students, covering a wide range of disciplines from instrumental and vocal training to music techniques and production.
Working closely with the building’s users, Tommila Architects carefully designed the architecture to accommodate the needs of visitors and resident users alike. The interior spans five floors, unified by a central atrium that integrates the spaces. The first-floor lobby doubles as a foyer, featuring dark tones and earthy textures. This contrasts with the brighter, softer, and more comfortable atmosphere on the upper floors, symbolizing a deeper bass frequency at the base.
The lounge and rehearsal rooms bridge over the atrium, creating a dynamic public space flooded with natural light. This design encourages informal gatherings and fosters a sense of community between the two schools within the building.
The learning spaces are arranged around the building to maximize natural light and provide beautiful horizon views. Sound insulation has been carefully calibrated—not to create complete silence, but to allow faint sounds from outside to be heard. This balance creates a peaceful, yet connected environment ideal for musical study.
The basement houses an innovatively designed hollow studio. Monitoring and editing rooms surround the recording space, allowing simultaneous use in different combinations, which is a pioneering approach in music education. Additionally, concerts held in the performance hall above can be recorded here.
The building’s exterior and interior design reflect different musical genres: the black bricks evoke rock music, while the bronze elements represent classical instruments. The rhythm of window openings on the black brick facade mimics musical notation, giving each room a unique character. A performance hall opens onto the street through a large window, sharing music with the city.
The Soiva Building serves as an annex to the historic Arab Ceramic Factory, once Europe’s largest manufacturer and internationally renowned for its design. Although manufacturing has ceased, the site has evolved into a hub for design and culture. The Soiva Building connects to a creative research park within the renovated factory, sharing facilities. Tommila Architects were responsible for designing the entire park.
Project Drawings
△ Base schematic diagram
△ Underground first floor
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Third floor plan
△ Fourth floor plan
△ Fifth floor plan
△ Section diagram
△ Section diagram
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
Project Information
- Architect: Tommila Architects
- Area: 7,497 m²
- Project Year: 2021
- Photographers: Anders Portman, Tuomas Uusheimo
- Manufacturers: Alavus Ikkunat Oy, Bermanto, Look, Karkkilan sisäverhous, Puucomp, TECU®, Tarkett, Wienerberger
- Project Manager: Miia Linina Tommila
- Lead Architects: Yrjänä Vuojala, Hanna Maria Virtanen
- Project Architects: Riku Piirta, Jussi Jokela, Laura Pasanen, Camilla Sundin, Stiina Ruusuvuori, Diana Rimniceanu, Otso Askolin, Niina Rissanen
- Collaborative Artist: Kaleidoscope Nordic AS
- Project Management: Indepro
- Main Contractor: SRV Rakennus
- Structural Engineer: Sweco Rakennetekniikka
- Foundation Engineer: Pohjateknikka
- Architectural Acoustics: Akukon
- Construction Services: FCG Finnish Consulting Group
- Power Engineering: E-Plan
- Fire Consultant: Paloässä
- Interior Architect: Sistem
- Location: Helsinki, Finland
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