Greatest of All Time – GOAT offers a unique restaurant experience that combines three familiar brands under the same concept. Skiffer, Bun2Bun and Seksico work together, drawing from the strengths of each restaurant. The selection of GOAT satisfies all tastes, welcoming customers to enjoy delicious food and the relaxed atmosphere. Despite comprising three restaurants, GOAT has only one menu, the food arrives at the same time and is paid with one invoice, which makes the experience smooth for the customer. Approachable service, atmospheric space, vintage furniture and recognisable graphics by Rasmus Tikkanen perfect the cosy and casual restaurant experience.

GOAT is a new restaurant concept in the AINOA shopping centre in Tapiola. It serves the dishes of three trendy fast casual brands under one roof. The menu features Liuskas by Skiffer, tacos by Seksico and vegan burgers by Bun2Bun, all served at the table. Skiffer, Seksico and Bun2Bun noticed how much stronger they can be together when they supported each other during the COVID-19 lockdown, which gave them the idea to build a joint concept. The focus on Espoo, on the other hand, stems from the background of many of the founders. “Our goal was to first and foremost bring a restaurant with first-class selection into the Espoo restaurant field – the three of the best. The second important goal was to combine three brands in a way that they maintain their individuality, but can be combined into the same restaurant environment”, Outi Gummerus, the Director of Business at Peruna & Co. sums up.

• authentic and contemporary
• casual with excellent service
• pleasant and cosy

The GOAT mission is to bring street-wise food and Helsinki-style restaurant culture to Espoo. The aim was to create the coolest restaurant and meeting place in Espoo. The target group was lunch and dinner guests who appreciate quality and want a casual experience in Espoo. The particular focus group within the shopping centre is stay-at-home mums and dads and families. The concept had to be functional for both eating in and ordering the food home.

Rune & Berg was responsible for the concept and spatial design that comprised the service model and the functionality and atmosphere of the restaurant space. The project was implemented in close cooperation with the restaurant owners, using the agile design sprint method. After the spring, the cooperation continued with the contractor, technical design team and lessor. The aim of the two-week design sprint was to ensure that the concept had a shared vision, clear target group and identified pull factors. Particular attention was paid to atmosphere, materials and functionality. ”It was a relief to start thinking about the whole with a professional company and a group. I feel that you were able to help us. The end-result is great, we were all very pleased with it. I was especially delighted by the design sprint – it fit us well. We were at your office and went through materials and mood boards to combine ideas and start creating the desired vibe. It was absolutely a key factor”, Outi describes.

In addition to the great concept that unites three restaurants under one roof, the GOAT spatial experience is interesting, unique and easy-to-approach. Its key characteristics are casual, contemporary, elegant, straightforward and fun. The visual elements make reference to all three restaurants: GOAT combines the checkboard floor and tiled walls of Bun2Bun with the rustic feel and panelling of Skiffer, complementing the look with colourful wallpapers and strong contrasts in true Seksico style. The end result is coherent and eye-catching. “The idea behind the rustic look and feel of the restaurant is that posters are not only art, they also reflect culture and inclusion in the surrounding community,” says Sini Ala-Nikula, Lead Designer at Rune & Berg, explaining the idea of the restaurant.

First and foremost, the new restaurant concept is warm and casual, offering an experience that meets the needs of different customers. Everyone can come to GOAT as they are. Warm oak surfaces, rustic wood and soft velvet create the perfect setting for unhurried meals. The place is full of interesting details and things to look at. “We wanted to use authentic materials, such as wood, in the furniture and surfaces. We created contrasts in different ways, for example, by combining old and new. Smooth elements, like a velvet couch, combine with rough tables that are made from old barn walls,” Sini describes.  “What was excellent, was that together we did not only think of how to make the restaurant look pleasant, but also carefully went through each target group and how they can use the space”, Outi adds.

The space adapts to different needs and times of day. At lunch time, the menu is displayed at the counter for quick viewing, while the dining experience begins with an unhurried examination of the food and drinks menus based on the waiter’s recommendations. GOAT also welcomes kids warmly to the restaurant. The restaurant also holds DJ nights, and it can be reserved for private parties. GOAT combines three brands into a seamless restaurant experience in a way that allows each brand to stand out.  Similarly, the restaurant welcomes each customer to come as they are, for lunch, dinner, or anything in between.  “The feedback that we get from customers is that it’s amazing that these three restaurants are available simultaneously and that you can come here with almost any group. The atmosphere is easy-going and welcoming. You can relax, enjoy and find something for everyone”, Outi concludes.

Jumbo K-Citymarket’s customer promise and the backbone of its operations is “A store worth your time”.  Owner Sami Hertell has noticed that the line between a restaurant and a grocery shop is becoming more blurred: people expect experiences also at traditional grocery stores. The aim of renewing Jumbo Food Court was to create a food court that increases sales in cooperation with the shop owner and the Kesko design team. The design took into account customer flows, navigation routes and the new conceptual look of the K-chain. The new Food Court of K-Citymarket Jumbo opened in September 2020.

• Inviting atmosphere: the food is easy to take away or eat in
• Diverse selection: something delicious every day, different graphic look for each restaurant
• Modifiable food visuals: changing food trends
• Practical furniture: functionality, durability, easy maintenance

The design of the Food Court was also guided by the following keywords: attractive, plentiful, makes people talk, interesting, uplifting and easy-to-approach. Rune & Berg Design was responsible for the visual appearance and interior architecture of the Food Court. The project included interior design, graphic design, visualisation and furniture design. Kesko’s designers were responsible for the functional design of the service line.

People come to the Jumbo Food Court because of the food and stay because of the pleasant surroundings. Although the Food Court has over 120 seats, every eatery is easy to find, thanks to their different visual looks and signs. The area serves a range of different people, situations and needs. The new Food Court appeals to both customers who get excited easily and to those who think nothing can excite them during a shopping trip at the end of a long day. It is for foodies and for hockey fans. It is worth your time if you only have 30 minutes or if it takes 30 minutes just to get there.

The space is in line with the high-quality, fresh food. It looks fresh and relaxed. The colourful furniture and fixtures and strong graphic elements accentuate the space. To make the space more interesting and serve the variety of needs of customers, the space has different seating options. In addition to the visual appearance, durability and easy maintenance were important qualities for the furniture. The space is visually and functionally appealing – different enough to be interesting but still clear. Each eatery (Street Food, Cafeteria & Gelateria, Salad & Baguette, Fruit Kiosk) has its own colour scheme, font and icons. Together, these visuals create the pattern that is used on the walls and tables. Rune & Berg also designed the visual details of the Salonen bakery.

Watch the K-Citymarket video or read the article about the new food court in Jumbo (both in Finnish).

The job description for the Local Register Offices included the maintenance of the population information system and marriage ceremonies. The Local Register Offices and the Population Register Centre merged into the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) at the turn of 2019-2020. As part of the merger, a customer-oriented operating model was created for the Uusimaa Local Register Office’s customer service concept and premises in Sörnäinen, Helsinki. Rune & Berg Design was also involved in renewing the marriage ceremony premises at Lintulahdenkuja 2. The projects included service design as well as interior and signage design.

The choices in both projects for the premises and services to be renewed were determined in cooperation with the users. The aim was to streamline transactions at the Local Register Office, thus also facilitating the work of the staff. In order to make the service environment, which is shared by several actors, as functional as possible, the staff of the Local Register Office and International House of Helsinki (IHH) were closely involved in the development of service and space concepts throughout the project. The voices of customers and employees are also strongly visible in the renewed marriage ceremony premises – with the agency aiming to treat customers even more equally and therefore, for example, the renewed marriage symbol is gender neutral.

• Easy, clear and equal dealings with the agency
• People-oriented, customer first
• Uniform operating models
• Versatile and adaptable spaces

To support the renewal of the customer service point, the agency’s everyday life and use of the space were observed, customers and employees of the agencies were interviewed and joint workshops were held. In addition, users had the possibility to comment on, for example, prototypes of operating models and furniture. The pain points for customers’ dealings with the agency were found to be customers drifting into the wrong places with the wrong forms and service numbers. Service guides and advisers to help customers were introduced to the new service model, who receive visitors immediately at the door and advise them on the right service point. Clarity was also increased by the division of the service environment into pre-service and service areas and a separate document collection point.

The word “magistrate” is a well-established term in people’s minds, so we decided to keep it on the signs in the renewed spaces – this will also make it easier for guests to find the right place. The couple getting married and other guests register at the reception, from where they are directed to the atmospheric marriage foyer waiting for them. In the vicinity of the marriage foyer are two dressing rooms where the groups can prepare for the important occasion. There are two actual marriage ceremony premises: Lemmenjoki and Riisitunturi. Once the marriage ceremony is over, the wedding foyer also serves as a great place to take photos. We created an interior design concept for the marriage ceremony premises, which includes different levels depending on the extent of the desired change. With the help of pre-defined signs, furniture and decorations, it is easy to implement the same atmosphere at different marriage ceremony premises in addition to the Sörnäinen location.

The premises were designed not only to be user-oriented but also smartly adaptable for different business situations. The service area and marriage ceremony premises are suitable for five different purposes:

1. queuing service
2. IHH matters, i.e. International House of Helsinki services
3. express service
4. service by appointment and
5. marriage

In addition to the use situations mentioned above, the marriage ceremony premises can be easily used, for example, for events and meetings where there are no marriages. The service point area can also be used, for example, to hold events highlighting the activities of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. Material flows and furniture choices took into account customer flows and different operating situations. For example, the chairs in the wedding foyers fold up so they can be stored if necessary. The furniture was also chosen according to the availability of spare parts. If any part of the furniture, such as a table top, wears out, it is possible to replace it.

In addition to versatility, facilities and service models were made equal and for the long term. The renewal of the service area and marriage ceremony premises will support the change in the operations of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency over the longer term. The atmosphere in the rooms is visually calm and acoustically pleasant, so they will last and serve a wide range of uses. The calm and clear colour scheme and carefully designed furniture make proceedings easier. Signs use symbols instead of words so they are easy to understand regardless of one’s language. They also have braille versions for those with impaired vision. The service points, on the other hand, are height-adjustable and the idea is that the customer can choose whether to stand or sit.

You can read more about the renewal of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s marriage ceremony premises on Senate Properties’ website (in Finnish).

The central plaza of the Helsinki Airport extension opened in January 2019. The Aukio concept, which was designed by Rune & Berg Design and Architects Davidsson Tarkela, welcomes passengers to experience Finnish nature with all their senses. The project began as an invitation contest organised by Finavia to find a concept to develop the passenger experience in the lobbies and corridors of the non-Schengen terminal extension. The joint concept put forward by Rune & Berg Design and Davidsson Tarkela “When A Piece of Wild Turns into Peace of Mind” was selected as the winner. “The extraordinary customer experience and related customer experience pillars guide the implementation of our strategy. Those have been greatly incorporated into the design of the non-Schengen area, Aukio and the overall passenger experience”, Finavia’s Vice President of Passenger Experience and Processes explains about the background of the project.

• developing a memorable passenger experience
• taking into account Finavia’s four customer segments
• highlighting Finnish nature and the sensory experiences it evokes

In addition to the central plaza, the new concept and the renewal covered a more extensive analysis of the passenger journey. “We looked at the entire airport journey, which starts when the plane lands and the passenger arrives at Helsinki Airport, then they go through security control and step into Aukio,” explains Jenni Herkama, Lead Designer at Rune & Berg Design. The concept was designed in cooperation with Architects Davidsson Tarkela. Rune & Berg Design was also responsible for further concept development with Finavia personnel and helping to find suitable retail furniture for the concept. The audiovisual solutions for the project were designed by OiOi. PES-Architects, which designed the new extension of Helsinki Airport, was also closely involved in the project.

The Helsinki Airport extension was inspired by Finnish forests and the sensory experiences they evoke. Aukio is a safe space where passengers can stop for a moment to wind down in Finnish nature. Visitors can admire, for example, the movements of clouds and winds, the changing of the seasons and furniture made from Finnish birch. Passengers who are looking for wow experiences will enjoy the interactive wall projections and the unique shops and restaurants around Aukio. For example, Aukio is one of the few places in Europe that has an Ajisen Ramen restaurant. “In our design and development work, we have made sure that the experience of Finnish design, smooth traveling, nature and tranquility would make a lasting impression of exceptional quality on the tourists,” says Helsinki Airport’s Director, describing the goals of the cooperation.

The design team developed the passenger experience also from the point of view of ease, simplicity and technical solutions. Digital display technology is a key element of the Aukio experience and Finavia’s customer promise: “Smooth traveling”. Technical solutions were renewed also elsewhere along the passenger journey. The new security control process is smoother and involves a smart X-ray line, person scanners and remote reading of X-ray images on the basis of feedback provided by the security control officers. Johanna remembers how the target experience and technologies were reconciled between different project parties: “What I remember first about this project is that we had to express the emotions the space was supposed to evoke with the help of a range of technical solutions to create an impactful and coherent whole. Rune & Berg was a partner that listened to us carefully and made sure the project as a whole progressed within schedule. You had an excellent skill to manage situations where multiple internal stakeholders and their sprawling ideas had to be harmonised. The service design approach and fast iteration, for example, by sketching the client’s idea, helped in this.”

In all respects, Aukio and the spaces around it support Finavia’s customer segments and the four pillars of its customer experience: sense of time, refreshment, Finnish experiences and security. “Out of the customer experience pillars, security is realized especially in the clear and simple infrastructure and world-class safety check, Aukio provides the experience of Finland and the Finnish nature, while services, restaurants and the Finnair and Plaza Premium lounge provide refreshment, Timo explains. Finavia’s customer experience has also developed positively: “We have received positive feedback about the renewal. Our most important key performance indicator, airport service quality (ASQ), is 4.4 amongst non-Schengen passengers on a scale of 0-5 so really high. Aukio is one part of this”, Timo sums up. “Aukio’s value comes partly from its positive reputation. One of our objectives was that Aukio would also receive positive attention on social media,” Johanna says.

Aukio was a finalist at the Media Architecture Biennale 2020 in the category “More Than Human Architecture”. MAB20 calls for media architectures that move beyond the mere spectacular; as well as beyond the design of individualized services comforting human customers.

Aukio was also one of the contestants for the 2019 Kehäkukka award. The City of Vantaa grants the Kehäkukka award to a high-quality, innovative architectural site or action.

Read, for example, articles on Aukio in Projektiuutiset (in Finnish) or the Finavia website. There are also videos on the Aukio pilot day (in Finnish) and the interactive solutions by OiOi.