Materials

The curved roof of the building is made of solid zinc with a few per mille of titanium and copper. It has been patinated and the surface will darken slightly over time.

The vertical windowless elevations are aluminium, which is resistant to Helsinki's maritime climate. They are sandpapered by hand using a horizontal movement, giving the aluminium a surface that refracts light.

The south and north elevations have reddish surfaces. These are made from acid reddened, textured brass, treated with heat and chemicals.

The building's big curved glass wall is made from Reglit glass u-blocks, which are mainly used in industrial buildings. The greenish element (ferric dioxide) has been removed from the building's glass walls and gallery windows in order to ensure that the light entering is natural daylight.

Most of the glass surfaces are sandblasted, but using aluminium oxide or silicon dioxide instead of sand. This creates a prismatic surface that refracts light beautifully. The other glazed walls of the building are steel curtain walls.

The walls and ceilings are white plaster, with the aim of creating tranquillity and simplicity.

The floor is dark grey, almost black, concrete.

The high curved concrete wall of the entrance hall is concrete cast in a horizontal board mould and painted white.

The auditorium walls are reddish plywood. A special feature of the auditorium is the control booth, upholstered in fabric that gives the impression of dark blue velvet.