Finland Plans for a New Embassy Building in Tokyo

“AIKI”, the entry by Architects Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Ltd, has taken first prize in the architectural competition arranged by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for the Finnish Embassy building in Tokyo. The winner was announced by Mikko Paaso, Director for Real Estates, at an event to publicize the competition results held at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on March 13.

The event was attended by Under-Secretary of State Antti Sierla and Under-Secretary of State Markus Lyra and by the competition jury, made up of Director for Real Estates Mikko Paaso of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, who chaired the jury, Ambassador Jorma Julin of the Finnish Embassy to Japan, Director Juha Lemström of Senate Properties, Director Arata Oguri of Arup Japan, and Toni Peltola, architect SAFA, the expert member of the jury selected by the entrants. Senior Officer Hanni Sippo, architect SAFA, of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs was the secretary of the jury.

Entries to the competition were invited from the following architects’ offices:

• ALA Architects Ltd
• Heikkinen - Komonen Architects
• Helin & Co Architects
• JKMM Architects
• Architects Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Ltd
• SARC Architects Ltd

In recent decades, the State of Finland has systematically renewed the Finnish embassies throughout the world. For two years, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has thus actively been studying the possibilities for renewing the functionality of the premises of the Embassy of Finland in Tokyo. With completion of this competition for architectural ideas, the aim is now to achieve a modern showcase for the State of Finland in Japan, on the site it owns, in a manner neutral to the budget. A strong alternative is therefore to implement the project in cooperation with a Japanese private-sector actor.

Japan is among the world’s leading countries in global economics, information technology and various types of technological know-how. Not only is Japan one of Finland’s most important trade partners in Asia; the country is also a central player, e.g. in export of culture and in cooperation between universities and research institutes. Japan will continue to be a significant partner for Finland also in future.

Images: Architects Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Ltd.