This year Helsinki Design Week launches an initiative to revitalize the city centre. a two-year collaboration with the City of Helsinki focused on the Aleksanterinkatu area, with the aim of making the city centre an even more vibrant stage for culture and urban life.
Instead of one central festival hub, Helsinki Design Week will be staged across a network of HDW Meeting Points located throughout central Helsinki. One of these is HDW Lab, a two-storey space at the corner of Kluuvikatu and Aleksanterinkatu dedicated to developing practical ideas for revitalizing the city centre.
Workshops held on the upper floor will bring together key stakeholders and decision-makers in urban development to explore new possibilities for ground-floor retail spaces and the public realm. The goal is to develop ideas that can be tested and integrated into the urban environment as part of Helsinki Design Week 2027.
From 1–4 September, the ground floor of HDW Lab will become a showcase for the future city centre. Each day will focus on a different theme, explored through expert talks, workshops and live demonstrations. Rather than presenting abstract discussions, the programme will offer visitors tangible examples of how street-level spaces could be used in the future.
“It is wonderful to see design take over the heart of Helsinki at the end of August, offering inspiring experiences centred on high-quality design and architecture. The City of Helsinki is delighted to partner with Helsinki Design Week in bringing this city festival to life and in helping create an even more vibrant city centre. The festival offers everyone an opportunity to experience the city centre from new perspectives,” says Daniel Sazonov, Mayor of Helsinki.
Alongside HDW Lab, a number of meeting points across the city centre will bring the festival to life. These locations will be announced in stages throughout August.
Marimekko and Futuro at Helsinki Design Week
Designed by the Finnish architect Matti Suuronen in 1968, the Futuro House represented a bold vision of the future. During Helsinki Design Week, Futuro will land in the Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden in collaboration with Marimekko.
Led by American architectural heritage expert Jan van Dijs, the project brings one of Finland's most visionary architectural works back into the spotlight. The installation celebrates Suuronen's legacy while inviting visitors to reflect on how the building might respond to today's needs, challenges and aspirations.
The interior of Futuro will be reimagined by Marimekko, presenting the brand's interpretation of contemporary living and design. The result is a bold and imaginative installation that offers visitors a new way to experience the iconic building.
Eteläranta 6
At the end of August, the Museum of Architecture and Design will open a new event and gathering space at Eteläranta 6. Together with its partners, the museum will host a programme of events in the space designed by Joanna Laajisto, inviting the public to discuss the role of architecture and design in shaping the city.
Throughout the construction of the new museum, Eteläranta 6 will offer visitors an opportunity to follow the site's development. During Helsinki Design Week, the space will also host a dedicated festival programme.
Other key festival events include the lDesign Market and HDW Children's Design Week at Kaapelitehdas on 29-30 August, Open Studios on 28 August and 4 September, Design Diplomacy conversations on 2-4 September, and the popular PechaKucha Night on 4 September.
As always, Helsinki Design Week's programme extends beyond its flagship events to include a comprehensive programme of partner and satellite events. The full festival programme can be found at helsinkidesignweek.com.
Helsinki Design Week is an annual urban and design festival. The City of Helsinki is the main partner of Helsinki Design Week.