2020 MAR–APR

Exploring cities layer by layer with Eveliina Sarapää and Franka Oroza

Architects Sarapää. A study of elevating existing industrial buildings in Helsinki.

Old meets new in creative, sustainable, and convenient ways in the architectural practice of Eveliina Sarapää and Franka Oroza. Sarapää and Oroza will stay as architects-in-residence with FCINY from March through May, 2020. During their residency, the architect duo will focus on expanding their toolboxes with creative and inspiring examples of urban transformations and infill developments in the city of New York.

Architects Sarapää. Previously the prison service building is modified to five apartments. Construction starts in the spring, 2020.

Both Sarapää and Oroza studied architecture at Aalto University in Otaniemi, Espoo. They crossed paths a few years ago and realized their shared views on architecture and city planning. Today, they run a company called Architects Sarapää together with five other architects. The company focuses on connecting old architecture with new infill projects whilst seeking new, sustainable strategies to approach city densification.

“We find that the most interesting way to make architecture is to fit something new into something that’s already there. Our way of working is best described as based on conversation and going through all planning aspects together in work teams. Challenging the conventional city densification strategies and through well-thought plans that create durable frameworks for living.”

Architects Sarapää. The black wooden OMB-restaurant building is already in place. Behind the restaurant stands the industrial building, on top of which Architects Sarapää will build Marski Rooftop. The construction starts in 2020.

During the past years, Architects Sarapää have worked with ambitious infill projects in Finland’s second oldest city, Porvoo. Starting in 2018, Architects Sarapää transformed a commercial building from the 1950’s to function as a restaurant by adding a new kitchen, bar, and a two-floor dining area. The new black wooden building has received praise for its beautiful wooden architecture from both locals and architecture professionals.

Architects Sarapää. Marski Rooftop project transforms the attic in an old industrial building to apartments. 10 new wooden houses will be built on the roof.

The current projects in the city of Porvoo are to transform an old Art Nouveau-style bank building into a boutique hotel, and to elevate a 1950’s industrial building into a building complex consisting of housing, restaurants, and small businesses.

In New York, the architect duo will focus on researching ideas and solutions on city densification and the re-use of buildings and spaces. The project goal is to find 100 surprising and out of the ordinary ways of densifying a city.  

 The research and documentation will take shape in photographs, writings, and sketches. The hope is to also engage in conversation with city locals and architects on the politics surrounding New York infill development work today.

 The city of New York is new to both Sarapää and Oroza, which makes the residency and research even more enthralling. The architect duo will start by exploring the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan, before heading out to other parts of the vast city.