SAFA’s Arkkitehtiuutiset news publication and Arkkitehti – the Finnish Architectural Review are set to merge this autumn. The valedictory issue of Arkkitehtiuutiset will be published on 9 June, with other changes to be rolled out over the summer months. We have put together some questions and answers to keep you updated on the planned changes.
The primary reason for the merging of these two titles is our commitment to improving the way we make information available to our members. The digital revolution is now well and truly underway and has dramatically changed our reading habits, with increasing numbers of people going online for their newspapers and magazines.
With the changes we are making, the Finnish Architectural Review will become a multichannel media outlet, comprising a printed periodical, a new look website and a newsletter backed up with an active social media presence. With content no longer tied to print schedules, our editorial team will be better placed to tackle all the most up to date and talked about topics as they arise. Going online will also allow us to offer new types of content. However, despite these changes, our printed journal will remain at the heart of what we do.
A secondary aim of these changes is to put SAFA’s publications on a more solid financial footing. Over the past few years, the financial feasibility of our print output has been eroded due to advertisers favouring digital channels and the increased costs involved in printing and distribution.
The decision to merge the publications was made by SAFA’s Delegates Council at its autumn meeting. Our publications have featured on the council’s agenda for some time, and several proposals have been put forward over the past few years for them to transition to the digital realm.
The groundwork for these changes was laid by a publications working group as part of a wider agenda for change. The working group comprises members of SAFA’s board and other elected officers along with editorial staff and members of the SAFA secretariat.
The final issue of Arkkitehtiuutiset will be published on 9 June. The new-look Finnish Architectural Review website will go live some time later in autumn 2025, and we will use it to publish new digital content more frequently than we have done until now. The first issue of the new print journal, complete with an updated visual identity, will be published in January 2026.
Although the merger will not lead to redundancies, it will involve changes to some job roles.
The new publication will bring together all the best parts of Arkkitehtiuutiset and the Finnish Architectural Review.
What will be different is our ability to meet your reading preferences better than ever before. Our online content will bring you all the latest news and cover the hottest topics in architecture, while the print journal will focus on more in-depth stories and explore timeless themes.
Also a new addition will be the Finnish Architectural Review newsletter, which will bring our content to you by email.
As a student member, you will receive a complimentary subscription to the digital journal, and you will also be able to enjoy a student discount on the print version.
All our existing Arkkitehtiuutiset content, including news items, profiles, essays, reviews and analyses will continue to be published online, with some also appearing in print. Obituaries will be published online only. We will be highlighting our latest stories across our social media channels and in our newsletter.
All content covering SAFA’s activities, member communications and services will be available at safa.fi, in our member newsletter and on social media.
The results of architecture and design competitions will be published online and on social media. Additional content exploring the competitions will also be published in the Finnish Architectural Review and online.
Our journal will continue to be known as Arkkitehti and go by the Finnish Architectural Review in English. However, we will be updating “Ark’s” visual identity both in print and online.
It’s always a good idea to check that your contact details on your membership record are correct to make sure you’ll continue to receive our newsletters by email. The easiest way to check and update your details is through your digital membership card.
You can also follow us on social media:
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@ARKFinnishArchitecturalReview & @suomenarkkitehtiliitto
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LinkedIn:
Suomen Arkkitehtiliitto SAFA