Finnpilot Kotka

A homelike new pilot station

Completion Year:

2026

Project Size:

270 m2

Industry:

Maritime transport and pilotage services

Services:

Interior Design, Project Management, Service Design

A historic setting

Finnpilot’s new pilot station sits in Kotka’s old railway station, which was fully restored as part of a major renovation project. The project was led by Kotkan Julkiset Kiinteistöt Oy, which adapted the property to the tenant’s needs. The station is a protected building under guidelines from the Finnish Heritage Agency, so its historic character and features had to be preserved as set out in the local master plan. We were responsible for the interior design and for involving the people who use the space.

A home away from home

Finnpilot employs around 30 people in Kotka, all working irregular shifts. This means the station is used for overnight stays around the clock, so the design focused on homeliness, user needs, acoustics and durable materials. Versatile, adjustable lighting adds to the comfort of staying over. Alongside seven bedrooms, the station has generous social spaces, a sauna, a kitchen and a living room, spread across two floors.

Inspired by the archipelago

The client wanted a modern interior that suits the character of the building. The design built on the workplace concept we had created earlier for Finnpilot’s Helsinki office, which is defined by fresh, natural colours drawn from the archipelago landscape. Accents of cutter red, the colour familiar from pilot boats, appear in lighting, cushions and other details. We inventoried the existing furniture together with the staff and reused it in the new spaces wherever it worked.