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Guide / Helsinki
”Finns are shy, but in Helsinki they push things to make life equally good for everybody”
On Finnish art deco spots and restaurant gems
MARTTA LOUEKARI
25 Sep 2020

Martta Loeukari is an equally proud and representative Helsinkian. She specialises in communications and PR in the fields of fashion, design and architecture both locally and globally, and has established a wide network of influential people and lifestyle spots in her hometown.

My favourite thing that makes me proud of this city: 
The people — how they really care and share the city. Finns are shy and like to mind their own business, but in Helsinki, they really push things to make life equally good for everybody. If you drop the trash on the pavement, the person walking right after you will silently put it in the bin, if you leave your wallet at the cafe and come back 2 hours later — it will still be there. I love the seashore and islands around Helsinki and how those are open and developed for everybody to enjoy.

My favourite weekend routine: 
In summer: Brunch at Cafe Siili and boat trip to swim at Villinki island, lunch at Gula Villan. Drinks at seaside & night ride with bicycle trough city.
In winter: Morning sauna at Kulttuurisauna, owned by architect Tuomas Toivonen & designer Nene Tsuboi, walking on the ice and lunch in one of Helsinki´s Russian restaurants. Drinks at the newly renovated Kämp hotel bar by Fyra Design Agency.

My favourite cultural spot:
I love home museums. Hvitträsk, completed in 1903, is a genuine jewel and a completely unique comprehensive work of art & design. It was a home of the architect trio Gesellius, Lindgren and Saarinen, who fell in love with the scenery at Lake Hvitträsk and built their own studio home there, in the Finnish art deco style. Another great home museum is Alvar Aalto home at Munkkiniemi.

My favourite place for dining out:
I usually prefer small places like Korea House, Pontus or BasBas but for Finnish food & fine dining, newly renovated Savoy restaurant with the original Alvar Aalto furniture and lovely and kind chef Helena Puolakka.

My favourite place for a creative or business meeting:
Cafe Kuuma or Restaurant Emo.

My favourite breakfast place:
Cafe Kuuma at Kämp Garden. The cafe run by mother & 2 daughters serves the best breakfast in Helsinki, maybe in the whole world.

My favourite city escape:
Majamaja cabin, Helsinki islands & sea, Villa Oivala at Villinki Island.

My favourite local entrepreneur or creative I want to promote:
All the brands in Kämp Garden, Ruskeat Tytöt, Lokal, Metsä/Skogen, Arkive Atelier, Yrjö Kukkapuro, Fyra Design Agency.

My favourite hotel for a staycation:
Majamaja eco-cabins! For hotels, I like Lilla Roberts or St. George.

My favourite route for a run or walk:
From Fishmarket (Kauppatori) by the seashore to Kaivopuisto park with the view to the sea and Suomenlinna or from Lauttasaari through Kaskisaari, Kuusisaari and Lehtisaari islands and small bridges to Munkkiniemi.

My favourite place for fashion:
Vyner Articles shop, Vuokko store and Kämp Garden.

My favourite space for great design: 
Iittala Arabia Design Center by Futudesign, Helsinki Olympic Stadium just newly renovated by K2S, Helsinki Biennale Pavillion by Verstas Architects, Box by Posti by Fyra Design Agency and anything by Anttinen Oiva Architects.

My favourite local media:
SSAW Magazine — a fashion magazine by photographer Chris Vidal and fashion designer Tuomas Laitinen.

My favourite thing at home:
Love.

What’s going on in your world that you want people to know about:
My company Juni communication works with fashion, design and architecture companies in Finland and abroad. We help our clients to create PR and communication concepts that help to develop their brand and business in a new way. We just launched a couple of days ago 2nd cycle project for Finnish heritage brand Vallila, where young Finnish BIPOC designer Ervin Latimer created a unisex collection with the surplus fabrics of 92-years old Finland based African-American artist Howard Smith.