“The Kuusijärvi Smoke Saunas represent public architecture at its finest. They show that beauty, sustainability and high technical quality can belong to everyone,” says Timo Miettinen, who selected this year’s winner from among the four finalists.
The Finlandia Prize for Architecture is awarded by the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA), and this year’s winner was chosen by the 2026 judge, Timo Miettinen, a scholar and non-fiction author specialising in European philosophy and intellectual history. According to Miettinen, the buildings combine “technical skill, aesthetic sensitivity, a sense of community, respect for nature and accessibility” in an impressive way.
Completed in 2025 at the Kuusijärvi recreation area in Vantaa, the sauna, changing-room and visitor information buildings complement the area’s recreational services. Their dark, timber-clad façades and green roofs blend almost imperceptibly into the shelter of the hillside. Located in a popular outdoor recreation area, the saunas are open to everyone at a reasonable price.
The buildings were designed in collaboration by Mer Architects and Talli Architecture and Design.
Discover the Kuusijärvi Smoke Saunas in a video published by the Finnish Association of Architects:
Our warmest congratulations to the designers and client of the winning project!
The building design was led by architect SAFA Julia Hertell of Mer Architects. Architect SAFA Jenni Hölttä was responsible for the principal and building design at Talli Architecture and Design. Architect SAFA Kaisa Riippi of Mer Architects served as project architect for the Kuusijärvi Smoke Saunas, while architect SAFA Minna Lukander of Talli Architecture and Design was the principal designer during the permitting phase.
The client for the Kuusijärvi Smoke Saunas in Vantaa is the City of Vantaa.
