Easy-going, stylish, and Finnish was the mantra that the executives of Hotel Helka and the interior designers Gullstén & Inkinen repeated when creating a totally new concept to the hotel. The outcome is a stylishly realized section of the atmosphere of Finnish nature and Finnish design combined with an easy-going and stylish service. The atmosphere in the hotel is totally relaxing and makes it possible to get out at least for a while of the hectic life of the city and work.The Hotel Helka building, designed by architect Wivi Lönn in 1928, has undergone a tremendous inner formation: A whole new concept was designed to Hotel Helka that situates in the middle of Helsinki City; its theme being Finnish design and nature. These themes are realised through interior design, service, as well as even music. The aim is to offer the guests a unique and memorable hotel experience that differs from the traditional products of hotel chains. The easy-going surroundings are realised together with leading Finnish design houses, the main partner being Artek.
The hall, bar, restaurant Helka Keittiö (Helka Kitchen), and hotel rooms have got a totally new and fresh look. "According to the contemporary trend, one might call Helka either "a lifestyle" or "a design hotel", but we ourselves want to deviate from this trend, too, and rather use the expression 'theme hotel'", says mr Henry Laine, the Managing Director. "We want to offer an easy-going and stylish Finnish hotel service experience with a very competitive price - quality ratio and strengthen the hotel's position as the best three-star hotel in the city at the same time", he continues.
Artek's Managing Director ms Mirkku Kullberg admires the new look and finds it natural and stylish. Kullberg thinks that this small, downtown hotel is having a comeback with both new and old customers but is also liked by international guests due to its genuineness and relaxed atmosphere – where design meets man.
In the ceilings of the hotel rooms there are kite-like fabrics that have sensitive and unique prints of Finnish nature on them. In the interior designing of the rooms, Finnish design that is inspired by Finnish nature is used. It is possible for the guests of the hotel to imagine a unique picture of the Finnish national scenery and atmosphere of nature, timeless peace and relaxation, even if they would not have the possibility to experience real Finnish nature at all. Artek and Alvar Aalto are strongly present in every part of the hotel, but also newer Finnish design has been used.
Unique Aalto stools are used as bedside tables in the rooms. The stool’s distinctive mark is an L-shaped leg with lamina bendings, a patented method. On the stools there are as night lamps Block lamps. The lamp was designed by Harri Koskinen (born in 1970) and was originally a glass experiment but became his breakthrough work and a classic already when born in 1995. It is like an ice cube that has a bulb light inside. The idea is funny and, at the same time, impossible in reality, which makes it thrillingly interesting. The lamp has also been chosen to the collections of the Museum of Modern Art of New York. Koskinen is one of the most noted designers of the younger generation in Finland, and in 2000 he was chosen the Young Designer of the year. He has also got several other awards, the most evaluated of them being the Compasso d’Oro prize that he got as the second Finn of all times in 2004 for the Muu chair he designed for Montina. The first Finn to get the Compasso d’Oro prize in 1957 was Kaj Franck that was rewarded because of his lifetime work. 
Another designer of the younger generation presented at Helka is Petri Vainio whose Helmat lamp lights effectively but without blinding. The light that filters through thin layers of cloth creates a sensitive atmosphere to the hotel rooms and the bar. Vainio founded Doctor Design, where he designs and produces furniture and lamps, in 1994. He decided to start his own business according to the idea that "doctors cure people, designers living environments". One way to accomplish this is by making a room cosier with lighting.
Interior designer Seppo Koho's lamps are Scandinavian and lucid, but wood gives their lights an atmosphere and attraction that appeals to people from all over the world. The structure of Koho's Octo and Secto lamps is based on the same idea: Joined form-pressed birch battens. The size and openness of the massive Octo make it possible to see inside the lamp where there is a drama of light and shadows. Koho's lamps can be found at the bar and restaurant.
There is a lot designed by Alvar Aalto at the hotel. In addition to the already mentioned Aalto stools, there are also grated benches designed by Aalto (1933-1935) that can, for example, be used as suitcase racks in the rooms. In the restaurants and other public rooms there are, for example, Aalto's unique armchairs that he presented at the Milan Triennale in 1936. This armchair differed much from his previous designs because it has wide, bended arms; it is heavy and low - which gave it the nickname "the Tank". Alvar Aalto was also a noted lighting designer. His lamps were often created for individual building projects: There is a brass lamp called Kultakello ("Golden Bell") designed for restaurant Savoy in Helsinki in 1937 at Helka's reception, and an opal-glass version of it at the cigar lounge. Artek started the reproduction of Aalto’s A110 lamp – the so-called “grenade” – to honour its 70th anniversary. It was first used, for example, at the Suomalaisten Teknikkojen Seura (the Finnish Association of Graduate Engineers) house in the early 1950’s. It can also be found in the hall of Helka’s 5th floor.
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