Award-Winning Lighting Project - Finlandia Hall

Tunto Lighting
1 day ago
2 min read

When the renovation of Finlandia Hall began, the lighting was set exceptionally high standards. The goal was to modernise the iconic Alvar Aalto luminaires to meet today’s technical and functional requirements — without altering their original form or appearance.

Empty theater with blue seats and purple lighting, viewed from the stage. Tiered seating and modern ceiling design create a spacious feel.

Balancing Cultural Heritage and Modern Performance for Finlandia Hall

This award-winning project required a unique balance between cultural heritage, architectural integrity, and modern performance. As the Lighting Project of the Year (Jury’s Choice and People’s Favourite), it stands as a testament to what is possible when technology adapts to design.

Three people holding awards and flowers against a dark background. Another person speaks at a podium with a colorful stage backdrop.

Invisible Engineering

At Finlandia Hall, the typical design process was reversed. The original housings had to remain unchanged, meaning entirely new technology had to be integrated inside them.

700 original luminaires renewed across 18 different types.
Invisible technology hidden entirely within the original form.
1:1 prototypes built in-house at the Tunto factory to validate every detail.

Dimly lit modern interior with blue-purple lighting, featuring a staircase, potted plants, and sleek furnishings. Mood is calm and futuristic.

From Incandescent Glow to Modern LED

To achieve a soft, calm, architectural light without visible point sources, we had to rethink existing optics. Designer Mikko Kärkkäinen adapted the Florence lens for a completely new purpose, resulting in uniform light distribution and a glow that honors Aalto’s original vision while providing excellent color rendering and dynamic capabilities.

Stairwell with metal handrails leads to maroon seats in a lit corridor. Beige walls and grid ceiling create a modern, orderly atmosphere.

Dynamic Spatial Control

Lighting at Finlandia Hall is no longer static. Before the renewal, control was limited to simple "on or off" settings. Now, the system allows for full spatial control:

Each luminaire is individually controllable.
Colors and scenes flow seamlessly across the Piazza, Restaurant Hall, and Veranda.
The atmosphere adapts instantly to different events.

Dimly lit lounge with modern chairs and tables, purple ceiling lights, and a sleek black striped wall. Green exit sign glows softly.

Custom luminaires for demanding architectural projects

There was no off-the-shelf solution for this project. It demanded experimental thinking and hands-on development to reinterpret original Aalto drawings for the modern era.

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