With Loyly Helsinki offers foreign visitors a public sauna experience, a must when visiting Finland. The building was designed slim and elongated so as not to cut the narrow park. The volume is kept as low as possible so that it doesn't block views from the future residential blocks. The sauna is developed into an easy-going, faceted construction that is more part of the park than a conventional building. When the wooden building turns gray, it will become more like a rock on the shoreline. The project was first fully FSC-certified building in F inland and second in Scandinavia.

The name Avanto – literally a hole in the ice for winter swimming – symbolizes the office’s philosophy. The partners enjoy nature and hope to preserve the same opportunity for future generations too. Avanto Architects create architecture that is sustainable in the widest sense of the term. With works ranging from product design to urban planning, the architects aim to design through an understanding of the users of their projects, in order to create ambiences that evoke an emotional response. More than just physical buildings, they see architecture as a means to improve the quality of life for all who engage it.

Anu Puustinen and Ville Hara are partners and founders of Avanto Architects Ltd. The name ‘Avanto’ – literally a hole in the ice for winter swimming – symbolizes the office’s design philosophy. The partners enjoy nature and hope to preserve the same opportunity for future generations to do so as well. Avanto Architects strives to create architecture that is sustainable in the widest sense of the term. With works ranging from product design to urban planning, the architects aim to design through an understanding of the users of their projects, in order to create ambiences that evoke an emotional response. More than just physical buildings, they see architecture as a means to improve the quality of life for all who engage it. Among their largest realized works is the Chapel of St Lawrence in Vantaa, Finland, completed in 2010. The building serves as a prime example of the partners’ manipulation of materials, light, and spatial rhythm. It has been awarded the Copper in European Architecture Award, the 2010 Finnish Concrete Award and the City of Vantaa 2010 Quality Prize. Most recent projects include wood covered sauna Löyly that was nominated for Finlandia Prize for Architecture 2016. The project is a clear example how architecture can bring people joy and happiness, the goal of our professional work.