Kouvo & Partanen Architects was established in 1982 and their focus is on building design, refurbishment, development planning, land use planning and interior design. Lately the office has concentrated especially on educational and cultural buildings. The office’s expertise lies in art education spaces and planning multipurpose halls and day care centres. The office has been successful in several Finnish and international competitions.
Cultural and Educational Buildings
- Tahvonlahti primary school refurbisment and extension and new kindergarten, Helsinki, refurbishment, 7408 sqm, 2017-2023, Helsingin kaupunki
- Kruununhaka school, Helsinki, refurbishment, 5700 sqm, 2015-2021, Helsingin kaupunki
- Kajaani city theater refurbishment, preliminary design, 1100sqm, 2020, Kajaanin kaupunki
- Kajaani Sissilinna theater refurbishment, preliminary design, 800sqm, 2020, Kajaanin kaupunki
- Kajaani theater design to Kaukametsä area, preliminary design, 1100sqm(refurbishment) + 1800sqm extention, 2019, Kajaanin kaupunki
- Agricolankatu 1-3 temporary facilities, Helsinki, refurbishment, 7976 m2, 2019, Helsingin kaupunki
- Metropolia Arabianranta campus, Hämeentie 161 branch, refurbishment, Helsinki, 7900 sqm, 2015-, Helsingin kaupunki
- Tampere Music Academy Building, Tampere, extension 6,200 sqm, 2014-
- Hoplaxskolan M 7-9 / Munksnäs högstadieskola, Helsinki, refurbishment 5,700 sqm, 2013-2017
- Day care centre Sakara, Helsinki, 1180 sqm, 2010-2013
- Sampola school and college, Tampere, refurbishment 13,000 sqm, 2009-2013
- Lehtisaari day care centre and school, Helsinki, 1,310 sqm, 2009-2013
- Kartano day care centre, Sipoo, 600 sqm, 2006
- Matinlahti school, Espoo, refurbishment and extension 5,800 sqm, 2005
- Finno school and daycare centre, Espoo, new building 6,200 sqm and refurbishment 670m2, 2002
- Pukinmäki comprehensive school, Helsinki, extension and refurbishment, 6000m2, 2001
- Kajaani music college, extension of cultural centre Kajaani, 3,600 sqm, 1998
- Kankaanpää art scool, 4,260 sqm, 1995
- Linnanmäki Play and Toy Museum, Helsinki, project, 1,470 sqm, 1990
- Kajaani concert- ja congress hall, cultural centre Kajaani, 2,850 sqm, 1987
- Kajaani open college, cultural centre Kajaani, 2,300 sqm, 1987
Office Buildings
- Office building for A-Lehdet, 1st prize in invited competition, Helsinki, 13,000 sqm, 1998-2003
- Premises for Kuopio administrative court, 2500-5000 sqm, preliminary plans 2002-2008
- Kankaanpää office centre, 3,595 sqm, 1992
- Kuopio legal and police centre, 11,700 sqm and general plan 29,000 sqm, 1992
- Pihtipudas office centre, 1,900 sqm, 1990
Commercial and other buildings
- ALMA Atacama Hotel Residence, Chile, 5,900 sqm, 2012-2018
- The Icesportcenter of Myllypuro, preliminary design, 17,500 sqm, 2009-2010
- Commercial and office building, Vuosaari, Helsinki, 9,000 sqm, 2007-
- Oulunkylä hockey hall, Helsinki, preliminary design, 2006
- Leppävaara Sports Grounds, Espoo, refurbishment, 3,300 sqm, 2005
- Swimming hall, preliminary design, Kajaani, 6,000 sqm, 1995
- Mäkelänrinne swimming hall, preliminary design, Helsinki, 8,000 sqm, 1991
- Extension of Helsinki Fair Centre, preliminary design, Helsinki, 11,000 sqm, 1990
- Centre blocks for public funtions, Herttoniemi housing area, preliminary design, Helsinki, 1990
- Raitalaakso building, project, Pieksämäki, 9,000 sqm
- Kuopio premises of Finnish National Bank, preliminary design, Kuopio, 1987
- Tele operating centre, project, Imatra, 2,200 sqm, 1986
- Premises for finnish broadcasting company YLE, project, Kajaani, 1,800 sqm, 1983-85
Housing
- Isonniitty housing, Helsinki, 2,400 sqm, 2009-2013, client ATT
- The Finnish embassy and residence of the ambassador in Riga, refurbishment, 2,600 sqm, 1995
- The residence of the Finnish ambassador in Vilna, refurbishment and extension, 1995
- Purjekallio housing company, Jollas, Helsinki, 1st phase 770m2, 1991, 2nd phase 400m2, 1995
- Development study for centre of Vuosaari, Helsinki, 2004
- General plan for Leppävaara sports facilities area, 2002
- Land use study for the new music hall, Töölönlahti, Helsinki, 32,000 sqm, 1997
- Land use study for Pappilanmäki, maintenance buildings of the area, Espoo, 1997
- Linnanmäki amusement park, general plan, 1995
- Market square design, Eläintori, Kankaanpää, 1994
- Study for a new swimming hall in Kajaani cultural centre area, 1998
- Kankaanpää art school, study of four alternative sites and preliminary designs, 1991
- Land use study for Käpylä sports facilities area, Helsinki, 1st phase 1990, 2nd phase 1994, total area 8 ha, preliminary designs of the buildings, 12,000 sqm
- Pieksämäki central square development plan, 1989
- Land use study for Helsinki Fair Centre in Itä-Pasila, Helsinki, 1989, 22,000 sqm
- Hakaniemi market square, environmental design, project, 1987
- Linnanmäki amusement park area, Helsinki, development plan, 1985-86, 24ha
- General plan for Kajaanin cultural centre area, 1982-84, total floor area 25000m2
- Isonniitty housing, Helsinki, interior design, 2009-2013
- Day care centre Sakara, Helsinki, interior design, 2010-2013
- Sampola school and college, Tampere, refurbishment, interior design, 2009-2012
- Lehtisaari day care centre and school, Helsinki, interior design, 2009-2013
- Lehtisaari day care centre and school, Helsinki, interior design, 2009-2013
- Kartano day care centre, Sipoo, interior design, 2006
- Matinlahti comprehensive school, Espoo, interior design, 2005
- Finno school and daycare centre, Espoo, interior design, 2003
- Pukinmäki comprehensive school, Helsinki, interior design, 2001, in co-operation with Hämäläinen ja Lukander
- Kajaani music college, interior design, 1998
- Kankaanpää art scool, interior design, 1994
- Kuopio legal and police headquarters, interior design, 1992
- Purjekallio housing, interior design for a single family house, sketch, 1991
- Kajaani cultural centre, interior design, 1987-1988
- Furniture and lamp designs, some of the designs in production
Awards
- State award for architecture and urban planning, 1988 (cultural centre Kajaani)
- Euro-Belgian architectural awards, 1996 (Kankaanpää art school)
Finnish Competitions
- Kuopio centre "Kuopion soiva ja sykkivä sydän", architectural competition, 2017, purchase
- Open Architectural Competition for the Extension to the Tampere Music Academy Building, 2014, 1st prize and commission
- Espoonjokilaakso landscape architectural competition, 2002, purchase
- Sammon lukio, high school, Tampere, architectural competition, 2003, 1st purchase
- Office building for A-Lehdet, invitational competition, 1998, 1st prize and commission
- Lahti concert- ja congress hall, architectural competition, 1998, 1st purchase
- Vuosaari Cultural centre, invitational competition, 1996, 2nd prize
- Ecologic housing area in Viikki, Helsinki, competition, 1995, purchase
- Raisio Housing Fair 1997, housing and planning competition, 1995, purchase
- Kankaanpää Office Centre, architectural competition, 1988, 1st prize and commission
- Ruoholahti, Helsinki, urban design competition, 1988, honorary mention
- Pieksämäki Market Place area, design competitions, 1987, 1st prize
- Kuopio legal and police headquarters, architectural competition, 1986, 1st prize and commission
- Finnish Science Centre, Vantaa, architectural competition, 1985, purchase
- Kerava Cultural Centre, architectural competition, 1985, purchase
- Idea competition of the surroundings of the administrative and cultural centre of Seinäjöki, 3rd prize
- Kuhmo Library, architectural competition, 1984, 2nd purchase
- Eestinkallio housing, Espoo, competition, 1984, 1. purchase
- Pieksämäki cultural centre, architectural competition, 1983, 2nd prize
- Lahti cultural centre, architectural competition, 1983, honorary mention
- Kajaanin cultural centre, architectural competition, 1982, shared 2nd prize and commission
- Malminkartano park design competition, 1979, 2nd prize
International Competitions
- International design competition for the new Hotel Residence for the researches of ALMA, in the desert of Atacama in Northern Chile, 2011, 1st prize
- International competition for the Scottish Architecture and Design Centre, Edinburgh, 1995, honorary mention
- Nordic architecture competition Fagervik, Timrå, Sweden, 1991, purchase
- Malmö Park, "park of the 90's", nordic architecture competition in the historical environment of Malmö castle, 1988, 2nd prize
Exhibitions
- Venice Architecture Biennale, 2016, Palazzo Bembo, Time - Space - Existence
- Finnish Architecture exhibition in Murano and Genova, Italy 2008-2010
- Suomi rakentaa -92 ja -97, exhibitions and exhibition cataloques
Publications
- Finnish Architecture 1994-1999 photographed by Jussi Tiainen, Kajaani Cultural centre -extension (Rakennustieto)
- COR-TEN -julkisivut (Rautaruukki, Rakennustieto)
- Prointerior 3-4 / 2014: Alma Atacama Hotel Residence, Chile
- Taidelehti, Kankaanpään taidekoulu ja virastokeskus sekä taidekehä, 2016
- ark (Finnish Architectural Review) 6 - 2018: ALMA Atacama - Hotel Residence for Scientists
- ark (Finnish Architectural Review) 2 - 2014: Sampola
- ark (Finnish Architectural Review) 1-2004: Finno School and Day Care Centre
- ark (Finnish Architectural Review) 4-2001: Pukinmäki Comprehensive School
- ark (Finnish Architectural Review) 1-1999: Extension of Cultural Centre Kajaani
- ark (Finnish Architectural Review) 3-1997: Embassy and Residence of the Ambassador in Riga and Residence of the Ambassador in Vilna
- ark (Finnish Architectural Review) 5/6-1995: Kankaanpää Art Scool
- ark (Finnish Architectural Review) 2/3-1994: Kankaanpään Office Centre
- ark (Finnish Architectural Review) 1-1993: Kuopio Legal and Police Headquarters
- ark (Finnish Architectural Review) 3-1989: Malmö Park, "Park of the 90's"
- ark (Finnish Architectural Review) 6-1988: Cultural Centre Kajaani, concert- ja congress hall
- ark (Finnish Architectural Review) 2-1988: Young Architects
- ark (Finnish Architectural Review) 7-1987: Cultural Centre Kajaani, open college
- ark (Finnish Architectural Review) 3-1985: Cultural Centre Kajaani, design phase
- Tiili magazine 4 - 1990: Finnish play and toy museum, Linnanmäki, Helsinki
- The Architectural Review June 1996: Urbane Artistry, Art School Kankaanpää
- The Architectural Review January 1996: Scottish Architecture and design competition, Edinburgh
- Architecture Méditeranéenne 50: Kankaanpää Art School
- L'industria delle costruzione 370, marzo-aprile 2003
Grants, recognition and positions of responsibility
- Sinikka Kouvo and Erkki Partanen: The Finnish Cultural Foundation grant for organising an exhibition at the Venice architectural Biennale 2016
- Sinikka Kouvo and Erkki Partanen: Arts Promotion Center Finland grant for organising an exhibition at the Venice architectural Biennale 2016
- Sinikka Kouvo: 3-year state architecture grant, 2008-10, 1/2-year state architecture grant, 1988, The Finnish Cultural Foundation grant for artistic work, 2003
- Sinikka Kouvo: The national supplementary artist pention
- Erkki Partanen: 1/2-year state architecture grant, 1989, 3-year state architecture grant, 2002-2004
- The Finnish Foundation for the Visual Arts artists' residence in New York, 1995
- Kordell foundation travel grant, 1995
- members of jury in several architectural competitions
- Guest lecturers at the architecture departments of Helsinki University of Technology and Oulu University
updated: September 2023