In addition to Tallinn’s Telliskivi and Helsinki’s Punavuori, Bob W has opened its first of many new properties in Helsinki’s City Centre neighbourhood this April.

The first of multiple City Centre properties is home to newly-renovated penthouses apartments spanning the top two floors at Vuorikatu 18B, a landmark Jugendstil building completed in 1902. The property has an epic location smack-dab in the middle of downtown Helsinki. Each apartment includes a fully equipped kitchen, and many also have private saunas and balconies. The Penthouse Sauna Tower, as the name suggests, is located in a two-storey tower with four-metre ceilings and a spiral staircase. 

Follow the construction, interior design process and opening on Bob’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

A smarter alternative to hotels and random rentals

Bob’s exceptionally cool short-stay apartments cater to the 21st-century traveller who wants it all: the consistent quality of a hotel and the authentic flair and affordability of a short-stay rental. We combine the best of both worlds in our contactless, eco-friendly properties in Tallinn and Helsinki’s most interesting neighbourhoods. Backed by Europe’s top real estate investors and venture capitalists, we’re soon opening more new locations in our current markets and across the rest of Europe. ‍

It doesn’t get more central than this 

If you want to be in the heart of the city and within walking distance to a huge number of Helsinki’s attractions and other neighbourhoods, then this location is perfect for you. Our City Centre buildings, including the Vuorikatu location, are located in the heart of Helsinki’s central business district and lively downtown. 

The building is situated on the corner of the Helsinki Central Railway Square, a hub of train, bus, metro, and tram routes from which you can conveniently get anywhere in the city (or Finland, for that matter). From here, you can get to other neighbourhoods like Punavuori design district and Kallio on foot as well. This is where old and new brush shoulders, where highbrow refinement and simple pleasures converge.  

Local Finnish design all around

The interiors are, as with each of Bob’s locations, inspired by the flavour of not just the city but the specific neighbourhood. On this neighbourhood concept, we’ve enlisted internationally acclaimed Helsinki-based Studio Joanna Laajisto, which drew inspiration for the interiors from the City Centre’s past, present and future.

The interior concept for the City Centre was inspired by what I think is most characteristic for this area in Helsinki, the many museums and other cultural attractions. The City Centre is a place where even us locals enjoy Sunday gallery tours, theatre and concerts. So it was natural to find links to the decor from these venues and also team up with the local artist Pasi Kärkkäinen-Tunkelo to create a custom print fabric for the headboards. The soft muted colour scheme of the rooms and corridor also reminds me of the grand Ateneum art museum just across the square.
– Joanna Laajisto, Founder and Creative Director of Studio Joanna Laajisto

Each apartment is decked out with loads of furniture either designed or made in Finland (or both). Coffee tables and ottomans from Hakola, several pieces designed by Studio Joanna Laajisto, vintage Artek chairs, and dining chairs from Lepo designed by Yrjö Kukkapuro give each space a distinctly Finnish vibe.

Something we’re extremely excited about are our custom fabric headboards, which feature a custom pattern by artist Pasi Kärkkäinen-Tunkelo based on the city centre’s fishing harbour pools. Beneath the headboards are premium beds by Finnish brand Matri made using largely solar energy and certified European materials. 

In the bathroom, you’ll find Ido cabinets made right here in Finland, and you can catch a whiff of our custom-blended scent made by Osmia using natural ingredients. Upon your arrival, you’ll also be greeted with vegan craft chocolate made in Helsinki by Goodio.

Sustainable from head to toe

Bob has gone to great lengths to make your stay 100% climate-neutral and as kind to the environment as possible. This starts with simple touches like carbon-negative cork floors in the hallways and ranges to our smart apartment management system, which lets you set the perfect mood lighting and temperature in your apartment while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 11%. 

We’re also working with our friends at Franckly, the Nordics’ premier secondhand design shop, to crowdsource at least two pieces of high-quality, secondhand Finnish furniture per apartment.  

Book your stay

You can book your stay at Bob W Helsinki City Centre now via our website for the best rates.

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