‘OK Talk WDC: Making Places’ explored the socio-politico-cultural roles and methods of design on a city scale, focusing on experimental initiatives. Curated and hosted by OK Do on the occasion of Helsinki’s becoming World Design Capital year 2012, the talk brought together a group of practitioners from the fields of design, art, architecture and cultural governance at DMY 2011 International Design Festival Berlin on Friday 3 June, 2011. …(more)

In the process of writing a book presenting a series of better dreams for Finland, Martti Kalliala and Jenna Sutela met up with Ingo Niermann, the editor and creator of the Solution book series published by Sternberg Press. The Berlin-based writer and artist talked about not only the reformation of nations, but also the boundaries between fiction and non-fiction, and his theory of the Drill. …(more)

Published by Newly Drawn and edited by us, ‘Double Happy – (8+8=19) Views on Architecture in Finland and China’ (双喜: (8+8=19) 份对芬兰和中国建筑的观察) is a publication on placemaking. Juxtaposing Finland and China, it brings together an international group of creative practitioners that wish to stir up the architectural discourse in the two countries – and beyond. Double Happy was released in Finland at Helsinki Design Week in September, and its Chinese edition is out now, distributed together with the October issue of Art and Design magazine (艺术与设计) around China. Enquiries on both the English and Chinese copies: Napa Books. …(more)

OK Talk Helsinki brought together five creative practitioners from architects that build to one that designs systems as well as a researcher and a designer working on cultural activities in the city to talk about the topic of Making Places. Bryan Boyer (Helsinki Design Lab), Hanna Harris (The Finnish Institute in London), Amanda Levete (AL_A), Shohei Shigematsu (OMA NY), Nene Tsuboi (NOW for Architecture and Urbanism) and a professional audience of forty people gathered at ONNI home shop on 4 September, 2010 for a discussion event over brunch. …(more)

Two multidisciplinary architects, Martti Kalliala and Hans Park, set out to explore how a mindset of an architect can contribute to projects in other fields. New Architect’s Atlas is published as part of ‘Double Happy (8+8=19) – Views on Architecture in Finland and China’, a publication by OK Do and Newly Drawn out on September 1, 2010. Welcome to the Double Happy party at the Helsinki Design Week Grand Opening tonight! …(more)

Hello from Helsinki 2012! Clues to Open Helsinki project by OK Do and Sitra explored the role of design in the contemporary city through gathering ideas that grasp the concept of Open Helsinki, the theme of the becoming World Design Capital year 2012, and turning them into a set of “clues” – structural tools with an aim to inspire decision makers in the process towards a more interesting and open city. To celebrate the resulting set of postcards from the future, we organised a party at one of our favourite Helsinki sites, the Palm House of Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden, as part of Helsinki Design Week 2010.

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What comes to your mind when thinking about the sounds in Helsinki? Trams, seagulls, the wind… 4’33″ by John Cage? Helsinki is quite minimal in its sounds – a quality that makes it special but also reflects what’s not happening in the city, leaving you longing for more variety, volume and spontaneous noise. On the occasion of We Are Helsinki magazine‘s music issue, we thought about redesigning Helsinki from a sonic point of view. …(more)

We collaborated with SAFA, Martta Louekari and Tuomas Toivonen by producing communicational material for two Snowball events on Finnish and Chinese architecture. The events were organised as part of Finland’s cultural programme for Shanghai World Expo. Based on our work with Snowball as well as our explorations on making places in Finland and China, we were recently also asked to edit a publication on the topic. …(more)

“The new generation of Chinese architects is neither interested in contemporary Chinese architecture nor the western style,” says Zhang Ke, one of the three principals at standardarchitecture, a Beijing office engaged in architecture, planning and design since 2001. “And we don’t want to sell Chinese style abroad, either.” In search of tomorrow’s architectural agenda in China, OK Do talked with four emerging local architects who presented their views on designing in and for the country undergoing rapid growth and massive change. …(more)

Helsinki strives to become a true city – but what is it that makes one? Reflecting on what makes many cities, like New York or Berlin, irresistible, it is their gastronomic offerings we come to think of – city experiences created by gastronomy that comes from all over the world. Wondering about designing an international city by gastronomy, we decided to meet up with some of our favourite restaurant owners of foreign origin or interest. …(more)