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An office that attracts people to spend less days working from home – Finnish Association for Nature Conservation found spaces to match its values

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When the Association was looking for a new office, one thing was clear: it wanted to move office sustainably and with low emissions. The result was an office in Kalasatama where the reused furniture, pleasant spaces and their own Nature Shop tell a story aligned with the Association’s values.

A familiar figure greets visitors to the new office of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation. The Saimaa ringed seal on the wall is a reminder of the decades-long work of the Association, founded in 1938, for Finnish nature. In addition to lobbying, the Association does tangible conservation work the length and breadth of Finland: from rewilding bogs and mapping forests to securing the seals’ habitats.

The same green values also informed the office move, Communications Manager Kirsi Haru says:
“We’ve internalised sustainability as a way of working. We couldn’t imagine starting any project which only used brand-new materials from the start. That would have been a deal breaker for all our employees.”

Now, Haru sits in the Association’s new 600 m² office in VERK and says with satisfaction how one employee summarised the mood:
“I wasn’t planning to come to the office today, but it’s just so lovely to be here.”

Need for change – and a Nature Shop

Most of the 50 employees used to work in Lauttasaari. However, they considered the office impractical and the location challenging.

“Our office was planned pre-Covid and no longer served our changed daily work. You could sense from our staff that a change was necessary,” says Finance Director Erkki Nenonen.

Clear criteria were set for the new office: it had to be next to the metro and rail transport so employees and holders of positions of trust from elsewhere in Finland could easily travel there. In addition, they hoped to house the Association’s Nature Shop under the same roof.

Nenonen was already familiar with Antilooppi, and the tone of the discussions was solution-focused from the start.

“Antilooppi had a brilliant service attitude, and they were prepared to discuss all of our preferences. Our sustainability values also aligned. The finishing touch was when they gave the green light to the Nature Shop.”

In January 2026, the Association moved into new premises in Kalasatama. Simultaneously, the nature-themed boutique opened its doors on the ground floor of VERK. The shop’s sale proceeds go to the Association’s conservation work. The employees’ feedback on the new premises has been exceptionally positive.

“Our staff have praised how pleasant and airy the office is, and many of them found their commutes shorten a lot. Many of them say they now smile when they leave for work. That’s just what we were hoping for from our new office,” Haru says.

Designer-like finish, but recycled

The atrium of the VERK building houses spaces aligned with Antilooppi’s Tailored concept, with views in two directions. At first glance, the décor appears assiduously selected: soft tones, light wood and green plants create a calm mood. Dashes of colour, such as the library’s ochre-toned sofa and petrol blue plant pots, offer contrast.

In reality, almost all the furnishings and materials are reused and assembled from what was available. For example, the lights, chair and sofa suites, standing desks and audiovisual screens were obtained from Antilooppi’s warehouses and other companies. Only some usable furniture was brought from Lauttasaari.

“The whole interior looks like it was planned for this very office. Everything has been donated, but is new for us,” Haru says.

The facelift of the walls used existing materials. Remodelling was kept to a minimum: the same floor plan was kept, the kitchenette was built from discarded elements and only a few walls were torn down. Anything new was done with consideration: tiles were switched and LED lighting replaced to improve energy efficiency. In addition, an accessible toilet was installed at the office. The low-emission method is a natural fit for the Association, which holds Ekokompassi certification and promotes the EKOenergy ecolabel, as is the location at VERK, which is known for its strong sustainability solutions.

“The sustainability of our workspace is number one for us. Now we have an office that is entirely in line with our values,” Nenonen says.

When routines feel good

The move meant doing away with assigned desks. The solution raised questions at first, but shared offices have proven functional.

“We all work in very different roles, and now we’ve smoothly harmonized our needs. The change has gone really well,” Nenonen says.

The finance director’s daily work involves a lot of discussions and rapid reactions.
“At the office, my role is above all to be present, to ask and to listen. Our new office brings people together, and nobody is left out.”

Haru has also noticed the change in everyday dynamics:
“The atmosphere in our old office was more splintered. Now different teams enjoy working side-by-side, and visitors from elsewhere in Finland fit into the group easily.”

Haru’s favourite place is the library, with its shelves of nature literature and where she can focus on quiet work. She enjoys working in Kalasatama, a part of town she had been familiar with from a previous job.
“It feels like I’ve come home.”

Nenonen is particularly looking forward to the spring and the Teurastamo area coming to life. As an avid birdwatcher, he is excited by the chance to spot birds right from the office – his binoculars are already waiting in the bay window of the conference room.

“I’m still listing species, but when the birds start migrating in the spring I’m sure I’ll spot more.”

“Our employees have commented on how comfortable and spacious the new offices are, and most of them now have a significantly shorter commute. Many have said that going to work now makes them smile. This is exactly what we hoped for from our new office.”

Kirsi Haru
Communications Manager
The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation

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