This is a recently opened Starbucks at Helsinki’s Stockmann Academic Bookstore (the best bookstore in town and one of my favourite places!). The interior was specially conceived and decorated to fit the historic building by architect Alvar Aalto, in which the coffee place is located. The furniture and lighting are Artek’s, designed by Alvar Aalto, Harri Koskinen and Ilmari Tapiovaara – all well known Finnish designers. Some of the furniture are 2nd cycle Artek pieces. The atmosphere and stylish Scandinavian decoration make the place quite different from your average Starbucks café. It’s more of an all-encompassing experience of Finnish design and architecture!
Psst! In addition to the Starbucks café, I recommend you to check out the Academic Bookstore itself. It’s the flagship store of Stockmann, a 120 year-old Finnish department store chain (a visit to Stockmann is also worth your while if you want to go on a shopping spree while in Helsinki). The building was built in 1969 and was recently renovated in an effort to restore the original structure while still preserving it’s historical nature. There’s also another cafe in the second store of the building, called Café Aalto, which is designed by Roy Mänttäri and decorated with design pieces like Arne Jacobsen’s Mosquito chairs.
Starbucks & Stockmann Academic Bookstore
Keskuskatu 1 / Pohjoisesplanadi 39
00101 Helsinki, Finland
Photos: Rauno Traskelin via Artek
