AKI ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ MARKKANEN ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ARCHITECTURE ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ STUDIO ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ HELSINKI ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ FINLAND ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ARCHITECTURE ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ IS ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ EMPATHY⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ COOPERATION ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ASKING ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ SEEING ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ LISTENING ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ FEELING ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ HEARING ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ACTING ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ LEARNING ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

Aki
Markkanen
Architecture
Studio

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Aki Markkanen Architect SAFA

Nokiantie 2-4,
00510
Helsinki
Finland

Aki Markkanen is an architect with boundless curiosity for people, environments and cultural phenomena. His multifaceted work spans architecture, urban design, interiors, furniture, photography, graphic design, sound, and workshops.

Aki approaches each project with thorough research, iterative development and physical modeling. His design philosophy is rooted in collaboration and empathy, with a belief that meaningful innovation emerges at the intersection of tradition and contemporary thinking.

While his work operates within planetary boundaries, it often challenges conventional limits. Aki values time-tested materials and methods, pairing them with cutting-edge techniques to create lasting, insightful design. He has experience working with locally sourced wood in architecture and is particularly interested in material reuse. He is also designing and crafting furniture from recycled components. His hands-on approach reflects a learning-by-doing mindset, and he sees the circular use of materials and the adaptive reuse of buildings as integral to the future of architecture.

Aki has been immersed in photography since youth, and his visual practice now extends into graphic design and brand identity work.

His versatile professional background includes roles in renowned architecture firms such as OOPEAA, as well as experience in landscape architecture. He holds degrees from the Oulu School of Architecture and Bergen Arkitekthøgskole, graduating in 2019.
Since 2017, Aki has operated his own practice and currently teaches Urban Space Detailing at the Urban Design faculty of the Oulu School of Architecture. His work has been recognized in numerous design competitions and competition teams, and he was nominated for the prestigious Wuorio Prize for young architects in 2020. He has also published articles on current topics, and his photography has appeared in both national and international architecture publications, including Finnish Architecture Review ARK and ArchDaily.

Whether you're shaping a space, rethinking materials or exploring new ways of building, I’d be glad to hear from you!

Honors and awards:

Greta and William Lehtinen foundation Grant, w/ Johannes Koskela, 2024.

Nominated for Young architects Wuorio Price 2020.

Displayed artist in Nordic Street Photo Festival, 2020.

Competitions:

Purchase, Tampere Vuores, Open architectural competition.
w/Elina Jaara, 2025.

2nd place, Jyväskylän Suvanto, Open architectural competition. Author in team Oopeaa w/Tmi Otto Heinonen, 2022.

1st place, Puolivälikangas Menninkäisentie 3, invitational competition, Author in team Linja
Arkkitehdit, 2017.

1st place, Koas Tower, Jyväskylän Kankaan alue, invitational competition, Author in team Linja Arkkitehdit, 2016.

Purchase, Wolrd’s best office building – architecture competition, 2015.

Purchase, Profin design competition, w/ Niko Kotkavuo, 2014.

© Aki Markkanen 2025

Aki Markkanen Architecture Studio

Aki
Markkanen
Architecture
Studio