Oodi's architect Antti Nousjoki is now designing a library in France and living his dream: "Always believe in yourself"

When Architect Antti Nousjoki walks past the Oodi library in Helsinki, he is openly proud and content. Although Nousjoki sees Oodi almost every day, the feeling remains strong. Seeing the handprint of the office and the entire staff feels good in itself, but there are other reasons for the contentment. Projects that architects promote in their work and designs that often involve competitions and competitive tendering sometimes require years of tenacity, foresight and waiting. This is something Nousjoki knows first-hand.

"It took years for Oodi to finally land on my desk. Helsinki was missing a citizens' living room like this, the city recognised the need and started to promote it. Now, it feels difficult to think about the time before Oodi. It's great to see that people have made the space their own," Nousjoki says.

Nousjoki is not only an architect but also a visionary leader and an entrepreneur. Together with his colleagues, he owns one of the most successful architecture firms in Finland. ALA is a Helsinki-based architecture firm operating globally and led by Nousjoki together with two partners. The office was established in 2005 and currently employs 43 architects, interior designers, students in these fields and administrative employees. One of ALA Architects' recent accomplishments is the Nokia Home of Radio main campus in Oulu, which was inaugurated in September 2025.

"In a way, I'm living my dream. We can define our own work pace, organisational culture and policies and create new things in many ways."

Nousjoki, who grew up in Hyvinkää, says that he liked to study the public buildings in Hyvinkää when he was young, such as the church designed by Aarno Ruusuvuori, but the idea of architecture as a profession was not yet clear. Ruusuvuori's influence stood out from the otherwise rather ordinary Finnish townscape, and creating that significance fascinated Nousjoki.

"At first, I thought about going to study mathematics, for example. There were also no architects or designers in our family whose steps I could've followed. But for some reason, architecture drew me in."

In the mid-1990s, Nousjoki got accepted into the University of Oulu on his third attempt. He thought the city was perfect for an architecture student.

"I was really glad that I got accepted and in Oulu of all places. I would compare Oulu to some less-known cities in Belgium – extremely fascinating, somehow niche, meaning special and unique, more than you would think at first glance. I didn't know anyone beforehand or much about Oulu, but I left with an open mind and realised that there were others like me. One of my fellow students was Vesa Oiva, winner of the Finlandia Prize for Architecture."

Nousjoki spent a total of eight years at the University of Oulu, including exchange studies abroad. He continues to encourage students to participate in exchange programmes.

"I wasn't in a hurry to graduate. Back then, it was normal to study for eight years," he says and adds:

"Go see the world, believe in yourself. This is a global field. You should establish contacts and networks around the world as soon as possible. They will help you land job opportunities later. Our own office is highly international, for example, and when recruiting new employees, I value the views and experiences they have gained outside Finland."

Nousjoki also encourages future architects to build strong general knowledge. It should be strengthened even when the professors ask you to draw and most of the time is spent at the design desk.

"The best architects have a deep and well-rounded understanding of societies and people. It's not just about walls or lines. You have to understand contexts, people's needs, the functioning of societies and be able to look to the future."

Internationality and strong general knowledge have landed significant projects around the world for Nousjoki and his office. One of the current projects is a university library in France.

The path to success is not always rosy. To succeed, you must be able to tolerate disappointments, often one after another and repeatedly, and keep trying. This is another thing Nousjoki knows.

"Especially when you're starting out in the field, you must participate in many competitions. It can be tough, because even if you work hard, prepare well and do your best, you can be left out. Not get chosen. And yet, you have to approach the next task with the same passion. This field requires good self-esteem and being able to handle disappointments."

Nousjoki has a good tip for dealing with disappointments, which he also follows himself:

"Get a life outside architecture. Don't build your whole identity around your work and the field. Find friends with completely different jobs. And do something else in your spare time."

Text: Leena Hirvonen. Photography: Mikko Törmänen.

Study a two-year design-oriented master's degree in Architecture at the northernmost architecture school in the world to get a professional architect degree valid across Europe.