Katajanokan Laituri - a stunning showcase of wooden architecture

Its naturalistic design transports visitors into a space evoking the tranquility and ambiance of Finnish forests and marine environments. More than just a place to stay, this building houses a multisensory luxury experience.

Located at Katajanokan Laituri are Solo Sokos Hotel Pier 4, Stora Enso's headquarters, and several offices, cafes, and restaurants.

When the designers of Katajanokan Laituri were commissioned, their goals were exceptionally high: they aimed to create a wooden structure that harmonizes with the maritime environment and historical architecture of the district, while also meeting ambitious climate targets.

Unique Building Site

"It was both thrilling and challenging to design a new building for such a unique location: Katajanokan Laituri opens in an exceptional way to its surroundings – Katajanokka, South Harbor, and maritime Helsinki. A wooden building of this scale has never before been built in an urban environment," says partner architect Selina Anttonen from the winning firm, Anttonen Oiva Architects.

"The result is our interpretation of Katajanokka's new layer, seamlessly integrating into Helsinki's extensive coastline. The building's curved forms engage beautifully with its diverse environment. Large windows and open spaces bring the sea close, while irregular cutouts offer deliberate views of the city from within," Anttonen continues.

Nordic Spruce and Viitasaari Granite

The design of the building is inspired by the northern nature. At Katajanokan Laituri, visitors can encounter the warmth and scent of a summer meadow, maritime Helsinki, and Finnish forests. The above-ground structure of Katajanokan Laituri is primarily made from Nordic spruce, with exterior surfaces clad in natural stone, glass, and metal to withstand harsh maritime conditions and fit into the urban landscape. Inside the building, the wooden structure is left largely visible, allowing the scent of wood to permeate the space beautifully in the evening.

The hotel's impressive lobby with its skylights is a gathering space for all building users. As you step into the lobby, you walk on sturdy Viitasaari granite, while the walls feature various forms of Nordic wood species. The furniture in the lobby bears the hallmark of Finnish designers such as Yrjö Kukkapuro, designed to endure.

Nature has been incorporated into the hotel building in various ways. A white-stemmed birch grove grows in the inner courtyard, a meadow blooms on the rooftop terrace, and the second-floor terraces offer views of coastal meadow vegetation.

Katajanokan Laituri is a unique blend of sustainability, closeness to nature, urban culture, and maritime spirit—a building where one can live, rest, and work comfortably.

Katajanokan Laituri represents a century-long commitment to sustainable wood construction, aiming for LEED Platinum certification for environmental excellence.