See you on the benches of Matkus!

Imagine a shopping center lobby that combines Finnish culture, community, and sustainable design. What kind of elements could the space consist of?

Kuopio-based creative architect and design office Partanen & Lamusuo received an interesting challenge to design attractive resting areas for the Matkus shopping center in Kuopio, which attract to have fun and to meet up with friends, offer opportunities for spending free time and work, let alone serve companies operating in the same shopping center.

"The client's wish was for an iconic space based on locality, sustainability, recycling, and Finnish culture. In our opinion, sauna, lake views, and wooden construction are the essence of Finnish culture and architecture. These starting points gave rise to the idea of ​​an experiential meeting place, the Benches of Matkus", says the artist-architect couple Partanen & Lamusuo.

The starting points were adapted to the context of the shopping center by creating tiered raised platforms. The seats at different levels offer both practicality and atmosphere. The whole was completed with island-like seating groups placed in the central aisle of the shopping center on both, the lower and upper floors. This is how Matkus Benches and Islands were born.

The Islands of Matkus are based on the idea and atmosphere of ​​the islands on the Kallavesi Narrows. Partanen & Lamusuo bordered the Islands with a plush textile carpet that softens the Islands´ acoustic environment and feels pleasant and soft under the foot. You can hear and feel the difference on the hard floor of the corridors. The pattern of the green textile carpet brings mossy rocks to mind.

The Benches of Matkus are the heart of the shopping center

The Benches of Matkus are designed as a space that lives through its users. The space is like it was created for Instagram: it is photogenic and atmospheric. The benches´ iconic name, "Matkuksen Lauteet", and user-oriented design make it a place where it is easy to arrange a meeting: "See you on the Benches of Matkus!"

"People sit on the platforms and share stories, they bring to life the idea that a shopping center does not have to be just for shopping, but can also be a place for encounters, creativity, and experiences," say Partanen & Lamusuo.

The Benches of Matkus is a multipurpose element that can be used as a stage or auditorium for performances, product presentations, and book releases. It can also serve as a place to rest while shopping. The platforms are an experience that feeds the imagination and inspires the shopping center's customers.

Plugs are integrated into the platforms, so that customers can charge their phones or, for example, work by the platforms. The stepped structure of the platforms invites people of all ages: children to climb, young people to relax and parents to sit on the lower levels.

The Benches bring closeness to nature to the shopping center

The Benches of Matkus open in different directions: to the central corridor of Matkus, to the adjacent shops, and towards the middle of the oasis-like resting area. The higher-end wall of the platforms delimits the rest area and calms the atmosphere of the adjoining restaurant area.

The lighting was designed to emphasize the multi-purpose nature of the space. Spotlights bring out the fascinating design of the Benches of Matkus while offering the perfect setting for events such as fairy-tale moments, fashion shows, or interviews.

The Benches of Matkus are handcrafted in Kuopio: the boards have been manufactured according to Partanen & Lamusuo's design by long-term partner Puusepänliike Heikkinen Oy. Heat-treated spruce was chosen as the material for the benches, which can withstand use and patina beautifully over time.

The wood is treated with a natural wax coating, which makes the surface easy to maintain and environmentally friendly. The warm tone of the shelves brings coziness to the space and combines nature into a modern environment.

A green roof made of silk plants descends over the Benches of Matkus, which adds to the natural atmosphere of the space and borders the space attractively. This is how the silk plants found in Matkus Shopping Centre's warehouse got a new life and at the same time freed up storage space.

At the Islands of Matkus, recycling and design-furniture meet

The seating groups, Islands of Matkus, located on both shopping center floors, offer a comfortable setting for spending time. On the first floor, the Benches of Matkus and the seating groups form a large Island. On the second floor, Partanen & Lamusuo created three smaller Islands that offer resting places and more intimate spaces.

The Islands of Matkus are furnished with multi-purpose furniture made for public spaces that adapt to the needs of different users. These adaptable pieces of furniture are from Palad, a design furniture brand from Kuopio. Palad furniture is designed and manufactured in Northern Savo.

The furniture and decoration of the islands are also a story of recycling. The Matkus Shopping Center´s old wooden benches and wooden flower pots found in storage were brought back to life by being restored by hand.

"The customer was already thinking about giving up the benches and pots, but we saw potential in them, and the customer was enthusiastic about the renovation project. This is how old and worn furniture turned into unique and ecological interior design elements", say Partanen & Lamusuo.

The paint on the old wooden benches was removed, the surfaces were sanded and the wood was treated with natural wax. The black-painted pots were treated similarly and filled with silk plants that bring greenery to the space.