Founded in 1997 Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects was the creation of long-term architectural partners Ilmari Lahdelma (architect SAFA) and Rainer Mahlamäki (architect SAFA). Previously the pair had been working together for 11 years, both in architecture collective 8Studio and as a practice at Kaira-Lahdelma-Mahlamäki. Since then the company has grown into a team of over 25 employees, both local and international. Today, as well as their work within the office, both teach as architecture professors - Ilmari at the Tampere University of Technology and Rainer at Oulu University.

Led by both Ilmari and Rainer, the office drives to use their years of experience in architecture as the foundation stone for each design. Rather than approaching a project with the aim to push or challenge an architectural trend, Lahdemla and Mahlamäki architects take each design with no preconceptions; constructing solutions which are fundamentally contextual and responsive to their situation. Each project is its own thesis, delivering an experience totally unique to that building.