Avanto means “hole in the ice” and refers to the popular Finnish hobby of winter bathing. We want that our architecture is a powerful experience just like jumping to ice cold water.
With our high quality architecture design, we have helped our clients create success stories and reach their goals in branding, visibility and even economically. Architecture by Avanto makes a difference. With partners from different disciplines worldwide, we create new type of places where design, sustainability and personal experience are the key elements.
Awarded with over twenty international prizes and with significant global press coverage, Avanto is one of the most prominent Finnish architecture offices.
Selected clients
A. Ahlström Ltd
As Oy Lentokapteenin kuja 4
As Oy Punavuorenkatu 15
Barrisol Finland
Carea – Kymenlaakso Social and Health Services
City of Espoo
City of Helsinki
City of Seinäjoki
City of Tampere
City of Vantaa
Espoon asunnot Oy
Finnexpo
Finnish Cultural Foundation
Finnish Design Shop Ltd
Finpro
Fiskars Real Estate
Gerako Ltd
Haapamäki village association
Hartela Ltd
Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre
HOK-Elanto
Kastek Ltd
Kekkilä Ltd
Kidvekkeli Ltd
Kyrö Distillery Company
Lemminkäinen Talo Ltd
Management Events Ltd
New World Development Company Ltd, Hong Kong
NREP Ltd
Nurmijärven Sähkö Oy
Pfizer Ltd
Soulmade Hotel Garching GmbH
St1 Ltd
Town of Hard am Bodensee
Town of Nurmijärvi
Town of Sipoo
Town of Taipalsaari
Turun Suurtorin keskiaika ry
University of Helsinki
UPM
Valio Ltd
Vantaa Parish Union Council
Vastint Hospitality B.V.
Vikna Parish Union Council
YIT Rakennus Oy
Selected references
2022 House Pokrinniemi, Hämeenlinna
2021 Finnish Design Shop, Turku
2021 Loki tower urban planning, Espoo
2021 Löyly extension, Helsinki
2021 House J, Helsinki
2021 Backas Village, Vantaa
2020- Aito-Sauna, product design (ongoing)
2019- Soulmade Spa Hotel, Helsinki (ongoing)
2019 Kyrö Distillery Company masterplan, storage buildings and a new distillery, Isokyrö
2019 Match box houses, Espoo
2019 Kuusijärvi general plan, Vantaa
2018- Moxy hotel West Harbour, Helsinki (ongoing)
2018- Courtyard pavilions, Hong Kong (ongoing)
2018 Urban development, Hard am Bodensee, Austria
2018 Matinkylä ice hall urban study, Espoo
2018 Koronakatu 2 urban development, Espoo
2017 Sauna Kolo, Hong Kong
2017 WeSpa, Westend spa, Espoo
2017 Showroom exhibition architecture, Helsinki
2017 Villa Kyrkkis and sauna, Kirkkonummi
2016 Villa Anna, Lappeenranta
2016 Löyly, Helsinki
2016 Woimala rehabilitation center renovation, Nurmijärvi
2016 As Oy Punavuorenkatu 15 renovation, Helsinki
2016 Suvelan Onni urban plan, Espoo
2016 Eco House Laapas and Innanen, Taipalsaari
2015 As Oy Lentokapteenin kuja 4 renovation, Helsinki
2015 Tähtikylä arts master plan ideas competition, Lahti
2015 Merrasjärvi Tähtikylä arts master plan competition, Lahti
2015 Konstunranta invited competition, Taipalsaari
2014 Tammela stadium, Tampere
2014 Valio Pitäjänmäki area, Helsinki
2013 Redevelopment of a historical railway area, Haapamäki
2013 Rørvik kirke invited competition, Norway
2013 Pitäjänmäki area urban planning, Helsinki
2013 Housing for people with autism disorders, Kotka
2013 Espoo city center urban design, Espoo
2013 Espoonlahti center urban design, Espoo
2013 Koirasaari sauna invited competition, Helsinki
2013 Villa in Kulosaari, Helsinki
2012 Kannelmäki Halsuantie area invited competition
2012 Kuitinmäki II urban design, Espoo
2012 Suvelan Onni urban planning, Espoo
2011 Sipoo river valley urban design invited competition, Sipoo
2011 Orion urban design, Espoo
2011 Kekkilä Garden green vitrine product design
2011 Case Study House Noppa, Billnäs
2010 Chapel of St. Lawrence, Vantaa
2010 Expo2010 sauna, Shanghai
2010 Four-cornered villa and sauna, Virrat
2010 Kekkilä modular garden shed product design
2010 Villa Lumi, Vihti
2009 Habitare sauna Kyly, Helsinki
2007 Kurttila urban planning, Espoo
2007 Villa Q, Helsinki
2006 Villa Flexible – Espoo housing fair 2006
2005 Pihlajamäki atrium housing, Helsinki
2002 Kupla – Korkeasaari lookout tower, Helsinki
Competitions
2019 Soulmade spa hotel, 1st prize
2018 Café pavilion to the central square of Seinäjoki, invited comp., 2nd prize
2017 Kyrö distillery, invited competition, 1st prize
2017 Infocenter for medieval market competition, 2nd prize
2015 Tähtikylä Arts concept competition, honorary mention
2014 Tammela football stadium, invited competition, honorary mention
2013 Europan 12, honorary mention
2013 Housing for people with autism sp. disorders, 1st prize
2013 Under the Kalasatama bridges invited comp., HM
2011 Peltosaari area ideas competition, honorary mention
2009 Habitare sauna competition, 1st prize
2008 Torino 2008 World Design Capital Geodesign competition
2006 Tsunami memorial design competition, Thailand, 2nd prize
2005 City chapel competition Helsinki, honorary mention
2004 Espoo Housing Fair Quality Competition, plot winning
2003 Cemetery chapel competition Vantaa, 1st prize
Prizes and Grants
2021 International Urban Project Award Finalist
2021 Arch Daily House of the Year nomination
2021 Salomon Wuorio foundation
2020 Nomination for Mies van der Rohe –prize
2019 The Concrete Façade of the Year
2018 Chicaco Athaneum International Architecture Award
2018 Prix International d’Architecture Bois finalist
2017 IOC IAKS Award Silver medal
2017 Nordic Architecture Fair Award finalist
2017 Philippe Rotthier European Prize for Architecture nomination
2017 Build architecture award
2017 Platinum A’ Design Award Winner for Architecture, Building and Structure Design Cat.
2017 Jury + Popular Vote Winner, Architizer A+Awards
2017 Rose for Building 2016, Helsinki
2017 Nomination for interior architecture journalists’ prize
2017 nomination for Mies van der Rohe prize
2016 Suomi prize
2016 Finlandia prize for Architecture nomination
2016 Nomination for Wood Prize
2016 Nomination for Concrete Structure of the year
2016 Nomination for Steel Structure of the year
2016 International Space Design Award—Idea-Tops, nomination
2015 100 architects of the year 2014, Korean Institute of Architects
2014 Ukko Pekka prize
2013 Barbara Capocchin prize honorary mention
2013 Arts council of Finland, scholarship for advancing Finnish architecture internationally
2012 Fennia Prize 2012, Kekkilä design team
2012 nomination for International Brick Award
2012 Detached house through the ages competition, honorary mention
2011 European Copper in Architecture Award 15, winner
2011 Lighting of the year -prize, interiors
2011 Color 11 competition, honorary mention
2010 double nomination for Mies van der Rohe -prize
2010 Concrete Structure of the year
2010 City of Vantaa Quality Prize
2010 double nomination for Wood Prize
2010 Arts Council of Finland, state artist grant and travel grant
2010 best garden product of the year
2010 Viljo Revell scholarship
2009 FORUM +1 Award for best new product 2009 at Habitare
2009 Arts Council of Finland, scholarship for travelling
2008 candidate for Finnish concrete prize
2008 Arts council of Finland, travel grant
2007 1st price Leonardo 2007, Minsk, Belarus
2007 Arts council of Finland, travel and an exhibition project grant
2006 Erik and Carin Bryggman prize for young architects and interior designers
2006 Arts Council of Helsinki Metropolitan Region, scholarship for working
2006 Art council of Finland, travel grant
2005/2006 Väinö Vähäkallio scholarship
2005 Arts Council of Helsinki Metropolitan Region, artist scholarship
2004 Arts council of Helsinki Metropolitan region, travel grant
2003 Gerda and Salomo Wuorio prize for a young architect
2003 Ar+d Emerging Architecture Prize
2003 candidate for Finnish Wood Prize
2003 Archiprix honorary mention, favorite of candidates
2003 candidate for Mies van der Rohe Prize
Published projects
Works published in hundreds of national and international publications including Abitare, Architectural Review, L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui, Arkkitehti, a+u, Detail, Domus, Time and New York Times.
Exhibitions
The works of the office have been presented in numerous exhibitions both in Finland and abroad for example four times in Venice Biennale 2004, 2010, 2012 and 2016.