Finnish airline Finnair has unveiled new Lounge area At Helsinki Airport, conceived by local designer Joanna Lajisto To combine Nordic style and comfort.
Logist led the conversion of the airport’s former congress center to give Finnair Offering a more generous lounge for first and business class passengers flying within the border-free Schengen Area.
Their plan showcases past and present Finnish designers and brands alongside others from the Nordics, with the aim of creating a feeling of understated luxury.
“Today’s luxury is about functional and serene spaces where you can spend a moment surrounded by restrained, elegant design,” said Lajisto.
“Our goal was to create spaces that would allow passengers to relax and rest their shoulders.”
The palette features soft shapes, a mix of warm tones and darker shades, granite stone surfaces and abundant natural wood.
Echoing the curved furniture, Lajisto designed new ceilings that take cues from airplane cabins, improving acoustics and providing a feeling of greater intimacy.
“We introduced softness through shapes and materials to create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere,” said Lajisto.
“We wanted to make the Finnair brand appear softer, so that the white color is warmer than the normal Finnair white color and we introduced texture with fabrics, wall elements and Finnish stone,” he told Dezeen.
Hand-carved wooden Traces table by Finnish designer-maker entrei hartikainen It marks the entrance to the main lounge area, which is open to business class passengers and Finnair Plus Gold members.
A curved wall of rainbow tiles leads to a more exclusive area for Platinum and Platinum Lumo cardholders, lined with heavy, sound-absorbing curtains. The tiles and curtains both match the dark blue of the Finnair logo.
The lounge is divided into three areas: an airy café serving food and drinks, a casual living room-style space filled with comfortable seating, as well as a study and work area featuring soundproof booths and bar seating.
Standout furniture pieces include Thomas Sandell’s Goma bar chair designed by Finnish brand Made by Choice, Louise Liljenkrantz’s Margus LC2 lounge chair by Danish brand Made by Choice, and Louis Liljekrantz’s Margus LC2 lounge chair by Danish brand Made by Choice. &legacy And the Biennale stool by Kari Virtanen for the Finnish brand drain,
The design also includes a series artekCaruselli chairs from the 1960s, retained from the previous lounge, were reupholstered to look like new.
“We wanted to present lesser-known alternatives to Finnish design alongside the classics,” Lajisto said.
These also include lighting designs such as the 1950s Cobra Wall Lamp, which was designed by Greta Magnusson and manufactured by the Danish brand. Gubi and w163 designed by lampire inga sempe for swedish brand westberg,
“We paid special attention to the lighting to make it soft and comfortable, but provide light where it was needed,” the designer said. “I believe it is important to have a good balance of light and shadow for a good ambiance.”
Lajisto won the Finnair commission in 2023 after topping a design competition organized by the airline.
The designer has worked on a number of high-profile projects in Finland, including Finnish Design Shop Headquarters and this Helsinki store of fashion label Nanso,
Finnair previously redesigned its lounge for non-Schengen flights, which opened in 2019.
photography is by mikko rihanen,
