Ilpo Raunio, 1933-2024

The third founding member of Arkkitehtitoimisto Laiho-Pulkkinen-Raunio (LPR), architect Ilpo Raunio (a.k.a. ‘R’) passed away in Turku on 5 December 2024 at the age of 91.

Ilpo was born in 1933 in Paavola, North Ostrobothnia. His father was a clergyman, serving as parson of the Paavola parish. He graduated from upper secondary school Turun Lyseo in 1952 and did his architectural studies at the Helsinki University of Technology, earning a degree in architecture in 1961.

Raunio first worked in the architectural firm of Pekka Pitkänen until winning a design competition for the Parliament House Annexe, which led to the founding of architectural firm Pitkänen–Laiho–Raunio in 1972. A competition for St. Henry’s Cathedral was also won by the same team in 1977.

In designing the renovation of Rauma Museum, Laiho, Raunio and Mikko Pulkkinen founded Arkkitehtitoimisto Laiho–Pulkkinen–Raunio in 1973. The firm’s name was changed to LPR-arkkitehdit Oy in 2004.

Other key work done by Raunio: Varissuo Church (1979-1981), renovation of St. Mary’s and St. Catherine’s Church (1982-1984), commercial/multi-use building in Hyvinkää (1982-1987) and Masku Neurological Rehabilitation Centre/MS-keskus (1985-1988).

His colleagues remember Ilpo as a considerate, modest and versatile architect. He possessed an encyclopaedic historical knowledge of the building arts and a keen understanding of his contemporary architecture. He always approached his work with great care and wanted to keep abreast of projects. At work, Ilpo is especially remembered for his morning rounds, during which he always had time to chat with everyone and see how work was going.

Ilpo spent as much of his free time at his summer cottage at Kuusela, on the island of Mussalo in Taivassalo. Upon retiring in 1998, he spent nearly all of his time there.

Ilpo leaves behind his children and their families, relatives and dear friends and colleagues.