New and old meet in an impressive townhouse – Annankatu 28 is a historically and architecturally valuable building in the heart of Helsinki. Its history stretches back almost 200 years: at different stages of its history, the building has housed workshops, apartments, commercial premises, restaurants, a cinema, and offices. Annankatu 28 underwent a complete renovation and extension between 2019 and 2022.

The renovation and the extension, which together consider the history and conservation values of the building, modernize an old townhouse into a contemporary office and commercial buliding. The special and distinctive architecture of the site is the result of historical layers, a dialogue between old and new.

The usability and functionality of the whole building were improved: The mainly four-story courtyard extension and the office floors of the renovation part were combined to form a modern office complex. A new inviting main entrance and glass courtyard with a multi-functional space were created on the ground floor of the extension. New lobby spaces were built on the upper floors of the extension. In the renovation part, the layout of the floors was almost completely redesigned to create a functional and flexible office environment.