When talking about contemporary architecture, it’s impossible to overlook Antti Nousjoki, founding partner of ALA Architects. His works include Helsinki’s acclaimed Oodi Library and Estonia’s developing Eedu education and business hub. We spoke to him about architecture’s role in 21st-century society, the meaning of creativity in buildings, and why Eedu is more than just a high-rise — it’s a vision for a new way of thinking urban.
Nousjoki believes that today’s buildings should spark human creativity rather than simply exist as visual statements. “Architecture created solely for impact is pointless,” he says. This, he notes, reflects a broader misunderstanding of architecture, where contemporary styles often remain superficial and fail to respond to the real needs of society.
According to Nousjoki, architecture should consider how people actually use buildings and meet the demands of modern life. “Creativity shouldn’t just be present in the façade — it should show in how the building works, how it enables people to create, connect, and grow within the space.”
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to rethink how offices, schools, and other public buildings operate. “The fact that we’re doing this interview over a video call today would’ve been unusual five years ago. But now it’s normal — and it affects how work and learning environments should look and function.”
The Eedu education and business campus rising in central Tallinn is the result of exactly this kind of thinking. It’s a high-rise with its lower floors integrated into EBS, creating a new kind of shared urban space for students, entrepreneurs, and the community.
“Eedu is not just a high-rise. It’s a vertical city — a social structure where every floor has its own function and character. It doesn’t push the public away, but invites it in to think alongside it,” explains Nousjoki. He emphasizes that the lower levels are designed for public use, including shared workspaces and rooms for community events.
“It’s a building that reaches out to the city — not just visually, but functionally. It’s not a luxury skyscraper just placed somewhere. It’s a structure that grows out of its context.”
According to Nousjoki, Eedu is one of the first of its kind in the world — a central city high-rise that deliberately combines multiple uses. “These types of buildings are rare. Typically, high-rises are built solely for housing or office space, with little real connection to the city. Eedu, on the other hand, aims to become an active part of Tallinn’s urban environment.”
The idea for the building took shape gradually. “Architecture isn’t a sudden flash of inspiration. It’s more like solving a Rubik’s cube — a complex, step-by-step process where every change affects another. Often, a small team sits together for hours, debating, experimenting, until we hit a breakthrough.”
He adds that the goal isn’t to create a ‘perfect’ solution, but to land on a strong, meaningful concept — and stick with it. It’s an ongoing process of compromise and discovery, where the architectural identity emerges through functional needs and urban planning ideas.
Nousjoki describes how Eedu’s lower floors forge a connection between the city and the school, offering flexible, inclusive spaces. “It’s where students, residents, entrepreneurs, and passersby meet. That creates a dialogue between the building and the city.”
The upper levels are more private — home to office spaces and apartments — yet even there, the idea of diversity and spatial dynamism remains. “Eedu is more a city within a building than just a building within a city. It shows how architecture can be a platform — not a goal in itself, but something that creates opportunities and shapes society.”
ALA Architects became widely recognized with Helsinki’s Oodi Library, which redefined the concept of a public building both in form and function. According to Nousjoki, the design process didn’t start with drawing. Instead, they first analyzed the space program in depth.
“We quickly understood that about one-third of the functions needed closed spaces, while the rest could remain open. Based on that, we divided the building into three layers: an open ground floor, a closed middle, and an open top floor,” he explains. The result is visually stunning, yet rationally structured. “It’s not complex architecture. It’s precise, clear, and functional.”
Each level has its own distinct character. The ground floor is open and vibrant — engaging with the city and street life. The middle floor is calm, focused on digital work and concentration. The top floor opens up to panoramic city views, offering light and tranquility. “It’s a space where people can choose the environment that suits their activity,” says Nousjoki.
When asked who his greatest influences are, Nousjoki answers modestly: “I could name a famous architect, but that would feel a bit outdated.” He’s more inspired by the diversity of architecture around the world. “I value honest passion and commitment — no matter what form it takes.”
He adds that more attention should be paid to non-Western building traditions and to structures created under temporary or extreme conditions. “The International Space Station, for example, is one of the most impressive architectural achievements,” he laughs.
But if he had to name a favorite building, Nousjoki doesn’t hesitate: “Rockefeller Center in New York. You can learn everything about architecture just by studying its details. It’s the perfect balance between functionality and beauty. It has an ice rink, a concert hall, office buildings — it’s like a self-contained city. Study it deeply and it becomes a textbook of architecture.”
Nousjoki is convinced that the best architecture comes from collaboration. “Teamwork, constant analysis, discussions, visual testing — all of this leads to something that’s not just beautiful, but truly alive.”
Looking at the projects of Nousjoki and ALA Architects, one thing is clear: this is not architecture for architecture’s sake. It’s a practical art form that responds to social shifts, opens new possibilities, and dares us to think, act, and be better — for ourselves and for our cities.
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