Fuuga – The Home for All Music

Turku Music Centre Fuuga becomes part of the city’s rich cultural heritage

Fuuga is an inspiring addition to the chain of cultural landmarks along the Aura River in the heart of Turku. It provides a new home for the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, with world-class acoustics, but is also much more: a home for all music, open and easily accessible to everyone. Fuuga brings together diverse audiences and people who share a passion for music.

Fuuga was developed through an alliance model involving the City of Turku, Hartela, PES-Architects Oy and WSP Finland Oy, with Laidun-design Oy and the Akukon & Kahle Acoustics consortium serving as subcontractors.

Piiroinen – Part of the Sculptural Architectural Ensemble

Piiroinen is responsible for the manufacturing and installation of 1,342 seats in the Main Concert Hall, the delivery of the telescopic tribune seating system and loose chairs for the Ateljee Hall, accommodating over 300 people, and the manufacturing of chairs and sofas for the foyers.

The Main Concert Hall seating, as well as the foyer chairs and sofas, were designed by PES-Architects Oy / Matti Kankkunen.

As a result of the project, the RIPOSO concert hall seat, the SEDIA architectural multipurpose chair and the COMODO sofa, designed to create inviting spaces for relaxed encounters, have become part of Piiroinen’s furniture collection. All three products are now available for projects in Finland and internationally.

Riposo

Design: PES-Architects Oy / Matti Kankkunen

An Immersive Concert Hall Experience

At the heart of the building is the Main Concert Hall, with seating for 1,342 people. The hall has been designed as a fully immersive environment, surrounding the audience both acoustically and visually. The aim is to create an experience in which architecture and sound merge seamlessly.

The concert hall seats were designed to provide exceptional seating comfort while meeting the high architectural standards and visual aesthetics of the hall. Acoustic considerations, including sound reflection and absorption, were also integral to the design. The silent operation of the seat mechanism plays an important role in the hall’s acoustics. At Fuuga, music surrounds the audience, providing a consistent listening experience regardless of where visitors are seated.

“Our collaboration began with the Main Concert Hall seating and naturally extended to the loose furniture for the foyers and public areas. As a company based in Salo, Piiroinen represents not only valuable local Finnish manufacturing but also exceptional expertise. Their manufacturing capabilities and understanding of quality aligned seamlessly with my own design vision.”

– Matti Kankkunen
Furniture Designer and Interior Architect, Master of Arts

Sedia

Design: PES-Architects Oy / Matti Kankkunen

An Architectural Universal Chair

Sedia is an architectural universal chair designed specifically for Fuuga. Its distinctive identity is rooted in its tubular steel frame, particularly the 30-millimetre-diameter legs. This deliberate choice of proportions gives the chair a sense of visual weight and volume, creating a strong association with a traditional solid-wood chair, even though it features a robust metal frame designed to withstand intensive use.

The name Sedia means “chair” in Italian. Matti Kankkunen describes its understated character:
“Sedia is designed to be a chair that does not demand attention, but instead helps define the space around it.“

At Fuuga, the chair features a black-stained ash veneer seat and backrest. Some chairs also have upholstered seats. As part of Piiroinen’s furniture collection, Sedia is available in a wide range of materials and colours.

Comodo

Design: PES-Architects Oy / Matti Kankkunen

A Place to Pause and Connect

Comodo shares the same design language and material philosophy as the Sedia chair. The sofa has been designed to meet the diverse needs of open public and social spaces. Without armrests or a full-width backrest, it allows people to sit freely, including at either end. Two sofas positioned back-to-back create a 360-degree seating island.

Long-term durability and ease of maintenance were also key considerations in the design. The seat and backrest cushions can be easily reupholstered. Screw connections have been favoured between the frame and upholstered components, allowing all parts to be easily removed and replaced over time.

The name Comodo refers to comfort in Italian, while the musical expression tempo comodo indicates a relaxed, unhurried tempo.

Matti Kankkunen describes the sofa:
“Comodo is an inviting and approachable piece of furniture that offers a place to pause, relax and take a moment for yourself amid the bustle of the foyer.”

Ateljee Hall Seating

A Flexible Space for a Wide Range of Events

The Ateljee Hall accommodates over 300 people and is designed for smaller concerts and events.
The hall features a flexible seating arrangement combining retractable telescopic seating with loose chairs that can be linked into rows.

With a total floor area of 326 m², the hall can be significantly transformed by retracting the telescopic seating system, creating additional open floor space for events such as cocktail receptions, seated dinners or club nights.

Piiroinen supplied the telescopic seating system, including its seats, as well as the loose chairs positioned in front of the retractable seating. The telescopic seating features Piiroinen’s AP 23 T seat model, while the loose chairs are customised versions of the popular TM13 L chair, widely used in event venues. The loose chairs feature upholstered seats and backrests, with a higher-than-standard backrest to provide additional comfort during longer periods of sitting. The chairs are linked into rows using connectors integrated into their feet, allowing quick and effortless assembly and dismantling.

Turku Music Centre Fuuga is another demonstration of Piiroinen’s strong expertise in delivering significant cultural and sports venues. Our collaboration with PES-Architects Oy and the other alliance partners began with the seating for the Main Concert Hall and naturally expanded to furniture solutions for other areas of the building.

As furniture designer and interior architect Matti Kankkunen explains:

“I had previously designed the chair for Fuuga’s Main Concert Hall, which Piiroinen was involved in bringing to life. When the project progressed to the loose furniture for the foyers and public areas, continuing our collaboration was a natural choice. As a company based in Salo, Piiroinen represents not only valuable local Finnish manufacturing but also exceptional expertise. Their manufacturing capabilities and understanding of quality aligned seamlessly with my own design vision.“

Lifecycle thinking has been a central principle in all the furniture we have manufactured for Fuuga, from the Main Concert Hall seating to the loose furniture in the foyers. Particular attention has been paid to maintainability and to ensuring that components can be easily removed and replaced. Piiroinen’s lifecycle services support the long service life of the furniture and help ensure that it remains in excellent condition for Fuuga’s visitors, every day of the year.

Fuuga – Part of a Rich Cultural and Historical Setting

More on this topic

Turku Music Centre Fuuga
www.musiikkitalofuuga.fi/en

Fuuga – The Building and Its Halls
https://www.musiikkitalofuuga.fi/en/discover-fuuga/the-building-and-its-halls/

Fuuga on the PES-Arkkitehdit Website
www.pesark.com/interior_Turku_Music_Centre_Fuuga
www.pesark.com/interior_Turku_Music_Centre_Fuuga