Karviaistie

  • Location: Helsinki, Finland
  • Client: City of Helsinki
  • Program: Housing
  • Size: 20000 m2
  • Year: 2021
  • Status: Honorable mention, invited competition
  • Collaborators: Schauman Arkkitehdit
  • Team: Ted Schauman, Jonas Nordgren, Kristian Kontula, Iiris Talvitie, Erik Huhtamies
image-1276
A framework for a comfortable and unique living environment for each resident

From concrete to timber

The plan creates a framework for a comfortable and unique living environment for each resident. The clear architecture creates an outwardly cohesive whole, yet offering a diverse housing mix and attractive common areas. The importance of the block’s outdoor areas to residents is strong even in the current form of the block, and the plan seeks to further emphasize this. This is accomplished with large apartment balconies and courtyards as well as active community block yards.

image-1277
image-1278
The simplified facades consist of natural wood panels, allowing them to change over time.

Old buildings naturally rise with additional floors as the facades continue to have a uniform look throughout the building; the opening and the south- and west-facing balcony zone continue the same rhythm between the new and the old.  The simplified facades consist of natural wood panels, allowing them to change over time and gives a lively expression to the neighborhood.

image-1279
image-1280
The new façades consist of domestic PEFC-certified pine panels

The main façade materials consist of domestic PEFC-certified pine panels. The ground layer is treated dark for fire protection, creating a beautiful pedestal for the block landscape. The maintenance interval of the facades is longer compared to the top-painted wood cladding because the wood surface can age with dignity without re-coating. In the future, the recycling of façade material will also be possible when its surface treatment is minimized. The roof shape in the plan repeats the current gentle gable roof principle of the buildings.

image-1281
image-1282
image-1283
image-1284

Project images