Unblocking Potential, Unlocking Possibilities: 10 Years in Action

  • Date

    Jan 2025
  • Categories

  • Share

Removing obstacles, opening processes, encouraging flow of ideas and generating connections  – these have been the guiding principles of RaivioBumann’s urban design practice for ten years. Their philosophy of allowance might involve placing a pocket park in just the right spot, repurposing a building with a story-filled past or designing processes for urban transitions. 

“It feels like our work is alive and keeps evolving; it knows no endings,” reflects Päivi Raivio. The designer-artist duo, comprising Päivi Raivio and Daniel Bumann, embarked on their first collaboration a decade ago in Rauma, a coastal city renowned for its lace heritage. In the wild garden of the Seppä House, they crafted a spatial installation to activate both the vacant building and its visitors. Perhaps a contemporary interpretation of lacework can be seen as crocheted from humans and their interactions with each other and the place.

“I still follow the house and its activities. It once faced the threat of demolition but now thrives as an artists’ residency and place for citizens,” notes Päivi. “While many of our projects have been temporary creations, experiments, interventions, many have longer-lasting influences – and that is very inspiring.” 

While RaivioBumann primarily operates as a duo, Päivi and Daniel sometimes also pursue individual projects. However, their work always involves a spirit of collective action and cross-sector collaboration. “Our work doesn’t exist in isolation; the public and citizens are always part of it. We focus on the urban sphere and its public and shared spaces, emphasising site-specificity,” explains Päivi. “Over time, the role of the designer has expanded its potential from shaping products to social design and designing change, for example.”

For Päivi and Daniel, designing change is pivotal. This involves observing community needs and conducting experiments to envision and test out new models for possible futures.

“Urban design often faces criticism for offering solutions that are too polished. A cityscape that appears to complete can stifle the emergence of community,” they argue. “It’s crucial to leave space for chance and spontaneity, for self-expression, and for undefinedness. And to do this for people of all ages.”  

A vivid recent example of their thinking was showcased during the Concéntrico festival in Logroño, where RaivioBumann installed an assembly of colourful plywood furniture. The installation quickly took on a life of its own as attendees, including children, began rearranging and building upon the structures. Design and intention intertwine with spontaneity and the unplanned—just like cities themselves.


“As designers want to stay in the background and instead provide a framework for the community to fill in with their activities, life and use of their city,” Päivi says. “In Logroño, kids had the idea to start building vertically. This type of reaction provides unique and inspiring information, and you can’t control it because it comes directly from the people. When nothing is too finalised, there is room for unexpected encounters and new urban experiences.” Also in Logroño, the temporary work became more permanent as the library adopted the furniture to keep the public square active.   

Päivi has witnessed the powerful impact of initiating change through a jumpstart. “A small intervention, like introducing a pollinator garden, can very quickly transform a space and reduce community anxiety by suggesting that change is also feasible on a broader scale,” she observes. “People are frustrated when things take too long – or out of reach. We need small scale public space driven experiences and networks to build up from – it’s empowering to see quick change in your local neighbourhood – it reinforces the hope that bigger change is possible too.”


As cities continue to evolve, Päivi sees an endless pool of opportunities to nurture living spaces for encounters, even with strangers. “In an ideal city, ‘third spaces’ can emerge organically along pathways that resonate with one’s personality and needs. Everyone should find their own levels of entry into the city, meet others if they want to, and feel connected to a larger community.”

With each city carrying its unique legacies of supporting social energy, RaivioBumann is eager to amplify what needs enhancing in Finland – and beyond – and recognising the necessity of agency.

“People often desire to express themselves much more than what existing frameworks allow,” asserts Päivi. “We strive to listen attentively and observe keenly, fostering imagination rather than merely fixing something. A prime example is our placemaking process in Tuusula, where a former brick factory was transformed into a vibrant public space that was then taken over by a local cultural association for the long term, ongoing impact. We basically just “unblocked the drain and let it flow”. While it sounds simple, it is about design, facilitation and analysing the strengths, roles and resources of the stakeholders and analysing the hidden signals. It was important that the municipality stepped in to take care of the industrial-level cleaning process, but otherwise, it came down to small activations that then grew. Every space has this potential to grow into place with a meaning, so let’s keep unblocking!”

Article & interview: Simo Vassinen
Photos of Päivi & Daniel: Vesa Laitinen


5 highlights from the decade:


1. “Helsinki Design Award 2022 – Recognition in a multidisciplinary, hard-to-define field feels amazing!”


2. “Launching Parkly urban furniture in 2021 – a solution that embodies our work and offers it to others.”

3. “Witnessing the rise of key themes: urban greening, child-friendly cities, mixed-use public spaces, and of course, placemaking.”

4. “Exciting new partnerships and long term collaborations both in Finland and abroad!”


5. “Celebrating our anniversary with events, talks, installations and get-togethers  – special thanks to Jan Kattein, Asmo Jaaksi (JKMM) & Design and Architecture Museum, Concentrico, Bar Typo & Ernest Truely, Som Djur, and DJ Roope Mokka!”