Exit School of Architecture Exhibition catalogue

Exit School of Architecture Exhibition catalogue Edited by Natalia Vladykina, Saana Rossi, Antti Ahlava, Fernando Nieto Artistic and concept direction Antti Ahlava, Fernando Nieto Exhibition production Saana Rossi, Natalia Vladykina Exhibition and graphic design Johanna Brummer Exit School of Architecture project has been developed in Aalto University, Department of Architecture, Group X, and exhibited as a section of the Human Cities_Challenging the City Scale 2014-2018 exhibition in Dipoli in September 12-29, 2017, being part of the Helsinki Design Week 2017 ofcial programme. Architecture ofces and individual designers provided materials for use in this exhibition and publication. Exhibition photography by Alisa Javits, Johanna Brummer and Natalia Vladykina. Niels font by Helsinki Type Studio. Printed in Unigrafa Oy, Helsinki, Finland in 2018. www. groupxaalto.f

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About ... 4 Projects ... 6 Kokoon Housing Units ... 7 Seinäjoki Library ... 8 Olari Skate Park ... 9 WDC Pavilion ...10 Chapel of Silence ...11 Martti Levón’s Park Urban Garden ...12 Sauna Kotiranta ...13 Huize Looveld ...14 Ateljee Heikkilä ...15 Lahokehä Decaying Garden ...16 Viewpoint Pavilion ...17 Violanpuisto Apartments ...18 Four Corner House ...19 Villa Samurai ...20 Pyramiden Afterlife ...21 Suomi-Cho ...22 Jätkäsaari Art Museum ...23 Taivalsaari Spa and Hotel ...24 Örebro Skate Park ...25 Kuhmo Luonnon Lumo ...26 Fashion House ...27

Project photos ...28 Exhibition ...32

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0 20 50 100 cm About

The Exit School of Architecture project examines shared local identities and meanings in new Finnish architecture. Which values and themes tie together users and designers, the private and the public? We looked at the works’ participatory methods to fnd what aspects of local culture and aesthetics are embedded in the design process and the fnal product. The exhibition demonstrates shared social and aesthetic values and reasoning behind the present Nordic Noir architecture in Finland.

We present 14 recently completed projects and 6 diploma works that abandon standardized ways of building to fnd more meaningful, individual solutions to design problems in contemporary cities and landscapes while retaining shared aes- thetic values of solitude, simplicity, and closeness to nature in materials and spatial expression.

The projects form two categories – projects that increase the well-being of the community, and projects that enhance one’s contact to nature, which is tied to individual well-being. The works all emphasize calmness – they provide a place of safety, quietness and tranquility amidst the hustle of daily lives. Simultaneously they strengthen a person’s relationship with their surroundings by creating stories through architecture.

The concept of Finnishness can be examined through the projects – what are the factors that tie Finns together, and how can these charac- teristics be materialized in a single building, or exported to create a Finnish experience abroad? All of the projects have their own answers, but the highlight falls on social well-being, quietness, and a deep respect and love for untouched nature.

4 5 Projects

We view participatory design as a narrative or a story-telling process, in which particular collaborative projects con- sciously or unconsciously link themselves to larger cultural stories at play in the society.

6 The small scale Kokoon Housing Units and fexibility of Wood Program the project allows for a large range Kokoon is a collection of stackable housing year 2016 of confgurations units designed by students of the Aalto location Helsinki to ft various area 11 m2 / unit, 33 m2 as installed University Wood Program to address the urban and sub- team Alexander Barstad, Kristin Ekkerhau- urban contexts. shortage of short-term housing in Finland. gen, Satoshi Iiyama, Nicklas Ivarsson, The pre-fabricated and transportable living mo- Stephanie Jazmines, Yuko Konse, To- dules can be grouped in diferent confgura- moyo Nakamura, Taeho Noh, Käbi Noo- tions, then easily taken apart and moved dapera Ramel, Maria León, Léa Pfster, Ivan Segato, Ignacio Traver Lafuente, to the next location. They could provide a Tanja Vallaster, Eduardo Wiegand Cruz, temporary home for a variety of groups in Sini Koskinen, Toni Lahti, Akin Cakirog- need of housing, from asylum seekers and lu, Pekka Heikkinen, Philip Tidwell, refugees to students and families with Willem van Bolderen apartments under renovation. photo Tuomas Uusheimo 7 A powerful spatial experience is essential for a modern library Seinäjoki Library to attract visitors. Library spaces JKMM Architects must inspire people to be active agents instead of just recipients The new Library was built to function together with year 2012 of information and services. the old library by Alvar Aalto in the architecturally location Seinäjoki area 4430 m2 remarkable environment of the cultural and admin- team Asmo Jaaksi, istrative center of Seinäjoki. While the design pays Teemu Kurkela, homage to some core elements of Aalto’s work, it Samuli Miettinen, doesn’t lend details or shapes. It is a bold, contempo- Juha Mäki-Jyllilä, rary statement designed to complement the heritage. Aaro Martikainen, Teemu Toivio, There are many custom, integrated interior solutions, Harri Lindberg, such as alcoves in the wall to read in, shelves to climb Päivi Meuronen on, and a great stairwell intended for sitting and photo Mika Huisman reading that connects the old library to the new. 8 The design process needed to Olari Skate Park be fexible as the excavation Janne Saario of the earth around the rock was done afterwards. The frst The Olari skatepark is in Espoo, on an open hill year 2014 plans were done based on core between two pedestrian paths with a 3-meter relief. location Espoo samples, and some guessing area 1600 m2 Bedrock protrudes out of the ground on the site, was required to fnd the shapes photo provided by the ofce reaching 5 meters at the middle of the hill, around of the rock. which the park has been created. The park is terraced on several levels that lead the way down the hill and around the rock.

9 The modular, triangu- lar grid roof created a WDC Pavilion playful lighting for the Wood Program Pavilion, washing over the terrace during the The World Design Capital Pavilion, year 2012 course of the day. designed by students of the Aalto location Helsinki area 500 m2 University Wood Program, served as a team Pyry-Pekka Kantonen, Markus central stage for the summer events of Heinonen, Marko Hämäläinen, the Helsinki World Design Capital year Janne Kivelä, Wilhelmiina Ko- 2012. The open and easily approach- sonen, Inka Saini, Pekka Heikkinen, able pavilion created a lively venue on Hannu Hirsi, Risto Huttunen, Mikko Paakkanen, Karola Sahi, a formerly forgotten site between the Ransu Helenius Museum of Finnish Architecture and the photo Tuomas Uusheimo Design Museum.

10 The Chapel’s warm Chapel of Silence atmosphere, created by K2S Architects the wooden walls, furnishings and indirect The Kamppi Chapel is a haven of peace on year 2012 lighting, transports the the busy Narinkka square in central Helsinki. area 352 m2 visitor from the hustle of location Helsinki It ofers a place to quiet down and compose the outside world. team Kimmo Lintula, Niko Sirola, oneself in one of Finland’s most lively urban Mikko Summanen, Jukka Mäki- spaces. With its curved wood facade, the small nen, Kristian Forsberg, Abel sacral building fows into the city scape, posing Groenewolt, Tetsujiro Kyuma, a stark contrast to the nearby buildings. The Mikko Näveri, Miguel Pereira, Outi Pirhonen, Teija Tarvo, chapel’s gently shaped interior space embraces Elina Tenho, Jarno Vesa visitors and shields them from the bustling city photo Tuomas Uusheimo life outside.

11 The otherwise underused park is enlivened by the garden and Martti Levón’s Park Urban Garden gardeners, who are employees Sofa Tigerstedt and students of Aalto. The garden provides a meeting place for The park was commissioned through a student com- year 2013 people from diferent cultures petition as part of the World Design Capital 2012 area 1,3 hectares location Otaniemi and walks of life. program. One of the most important goals of the photo Sofa garden was to strengthen the spirit of the community Tigerstedt of Aalto University. As the planning advanced, inter- ested gardeners were invited to comment, suggest equipment needed for the garden, and fnally to form the association that now governs the urban garden.

12 The building was fnished Sauna Kotiranta slowly – we were making Lehtinen-Miettunen Architects a jewel, not an ordinary building, and we would The site, where a lake, the rock face of a clif, and year 2012 not ruin it with a schedule. the wooded garden meet, provided a possibility to location Lahti, Vesijärvi create a building which emphasizes this connection – area 30 m2 a person may experience and be part of the juncture team Lasse between the diferent elements. The interface of the Lehtinen untouched nature and the building was made as photo James narrow as possible. Silverman

13 This project was about resurrection, breaking new ground, healing Huize Looveld wounds, making a fresh start, Studio Puisto collaboration, cooperation, listening, site-specifc sensitivity, This project started with a fre – a centuries-old family year 2014 efciency, cost efective design home in the Netherlands burned down overnight. location Duiven, The Netherlands – in short, about architecture. When your house and possessions disappear, you are area 210 m2 left without the things that make up your history and team Willem van identity, without a home. The process of designing Bolderen, something together and being able to create a new Bas van Bolderen future helped turn the mood around. The new house photo Marc Goodwin stands out in an environment of old white brick build- ings, but it blends in perfectly with the surroundings of the trees and the felds.

14 The users wanted an open Ateljee Heikkilä layout, where the living Rudanko-Kankkunen Architects quarters can slowly fnd their own form. The brief for the building was to create a warehouse year 2013 that also works well as a home and workplace for location Korpilahti area 220 m2 a designer. The building is like a piece of furniture team Anssi Kankkunen, - functional and simplistic. Wood was the natural Hilla Rudanko choice for the material, since most of the designer’s photo Maija Holma work is also made of wood.

15 The garden is in a constant state of change, and it will Lahokehä Decaying Garden disappear unless routinely Sofa Tigerstedt refurbished with decaying material. Nowadays forests in Finland are mostly actively maintained year 2012 economical forests, and the lack of decaying material and the location Otaniemi team Sofa Tigerstedt, nutrients they provide has caused many species to become Kimmo Heikkinen endangered. The garden was designed to raise awareness of photo Sofa Tigerstedt the importance of decaying material as a part of any ecosystem, and it was realised in the middle of a popular walking route by a volunteer team made up of university staf and students. The garden provides a natural fnal deposit for local organic waste from outdoor area upkeep work, and a QR-code in one of the stumps provides visitors information about the project.

16 Through its architectural Viewpoint Pavilion storytelling, the pavilion Aarti Ollila Ristola Architects addresses the relationship between man and nature, Nature in a truly natural state is crucial for the endangered living year 2014 and the cultural exchange conditions of wildlife in metropolitan areas, which is something location London between Finland and the team Erkko Aarti, Camley Street Natural Park provides for the Greater London United Kingdom. Mikki Ristola, area and Viewpoint pavilion aims to celebrate. It is actively Arto Ollila used by local schools to get children in touch with nature, as well as for organizing gatherings of the local community. The geometry of the pavilion is inspired by primitive shelters tradi- tionally used in Scandinavian forests, called ‘‘laavu’’, blending into their surroundings and ofering a place to observe nature without disturbing it.

17 The group behind the project was very involved Violanpuisto Apartments on the building site, Viivi Snellman and Marcus Ahlman helping with all kinds of work. This caused a close Violanpuisto is a joint building venture, where 11 families year 2008 bond to form among the (including the two architects) came together to create location Helsinki group and between people photo Johannes their own homes in Helsinki. The three new buildings Laiho and their homes, when were to form a simple, beautiful and sustainable whole their own handiwork could with an older existing building on the site. At the core be seen on the facade. of the design was the fow between the shared and the private spaces. The shared gardens and patios were to link private indoor areas together. The aim was to simultaneously create a joyful community and homes which ofer peace and privacy when needed.

18 ‘‘The design started only after Four Corner House I had spent two years’ worth of Avanto Architects free time on the island carefully studying the plot. In the end, Our basic idea is to provide an example of a year 2010 the villa became a device to sustainable cottage. The building is insulated location Virrat watch nature through cropped area 78m2 views.’’ well and heated by wood from our own forest, + sauna 24 m2 and electricity is provided by the sun. There is a team Ville Hara, vegetable and herb garden and in the Vaskivesi Anu Puustinen lake one can catch pike-perch. The simple and photos kuvio.com ascetic life at the countryside difers dramatically from the hectic city life and provides a possibility to live a life with a minimum impact to the nature.

19 ‘‘Through the shared design process, we came Villa Samurai to understand each other helsinkizurich – and it also taught me about my own aspirations. The user and the designer had a shared aim of creating year 2015 A collaborative design something radical and spectacular together. The values, location Kangasala area 100 m2 process always teaches which we shared, were a sort of liberal experimentalism team Antti Ahlava, one to communicate combined with a sensitivity to the existing building on the better.’’ Teddy Pauly, site. The old building was black, and the addition turned Lauri Eklund, out to be a little bit odd, in a Nordic way – simultaneously Lauri Salminen bohemian and ascetic. Because the client built the project photo Antti Ahlava himself, it was necessary to use simple construction tech- niques. The client also had a fear of heights, so we made an innovation: the giant roof was frst built on a horizontal plane and then, using hinges, gradually turned upright. 20 The idea of temporality is Pyramiden Afterlife crucial in the project. Instead Diploma work by Anastasia Glukhova of conserving the town and its history as a static entity, The project’s approach to Svalbard’s revitalisation is to year 2016 the concept is rather to fll the create a growing-shrinking dynamic scenario following location Svalbard, places with new stories that Norway the natural yearly cycles of the town. The project includes would create connections to a festival strategy, a temporary reuse concept and a new existing memories and in- herent qualities of the town. building design proposal. The building design concept is to create a black box based performance space but with a strong transparency in order to embrace the envi- ronment. During the summer the building can host up to 250 users while in the winter only a small part is heated and used for sleeping and working for up to 5 people. A key goal is the involvement of the local population and especially those formerly employed by coal company. 21 It would not be correct to speak of a ‘‘shared cultural background’’ Suomi-Cho or ‘‘shared Finnishness’’ as such, Diploma work by Olli Vuorinen but rather coincidental cultural common ground or cultural Suomi-cho is an attempt to fnd solutions for year 2014 hotspots shared between two redevelopment between the kind of large-scale location Tokyo, Japan widely diferent cultures. urban renewal often seen in Japan and indi- vidual building, in a way that is site-specifc, respectful and interesting. The project could also be seen as an architectural refection of both the psychological and historical processes of intercultural interaction. The fundamental challenge is to create something international through the particular and the local, not through the generic and the commercial. 22 The building breathes in and Suomi-Cho Jätkäsaari Art Museum out to the city – you can see Diploma work by Samuli Summanen through the building, so the buzzing vibe extends to the The art museum project was made to enliven year 2015 area surrounding it. city culture in the new neighborhood of Jät- location Helsinki käsaari. In the open, oversized ground foor Piazza, events that invigorate the community can be held – for example pop-up exhibitions and fea markets. The area inside and around the museum is intended to be an open meeting space for people from all backgrounds and age groups.

23 Bathing as a ritual and a communal event is universal, Taivalsaari Spa and Hotel and diferent versions of saunas Diploma work by Christopher Delany have existed for several mil- lennia. Every Finn will take The form of the hotel and spa is an organic mass, year 2010 their guest, especially a which mirrors the contours of the surroundings location Helsinki foreign one, to a sauna. and the waves of the sea. The vertical pattern on the large glass areas of the façade have been inspired by the Finnish pine forest, one of which can be found south of the spa and hotel. The light streaming through the semi-transpar- ent roof adds to the mystical experience of the spa reminiscent of the semi-darkness of a Finnish sauna.

24 ‘‘There are silent folks nearby, Taivalsaari Spa and Hotel Örebro Skate Park buried in the cemetery. Next to it Janne Saario we’ll build a skate park with large concrete holes, where young people The site is in the park area of Drottning- year 2015 will spend the time of their lives park. It is on the outskirts of the center, next location Örebro, bouncing, whizzing and gliding on Sweden to a high school and a historical cemetery. the surfaces. The area between the area 3500 m2 The pleasant green environment is an ideal pits will be treated to look like an sculptures Zunino old, cracked sidewalk. Wait long location for a large concrete skate park. In and art Ignestam Studio enough, and time will do its duty.’’ the beginning of the design process, we photo provided by the ofce held a workshop with local skaters. The youngsters wished for a unique and out- standing skate park, which they provided quite detailed ideas for.

25 With the client’s support and interaction, unique solutions Kuhmo Luonnon lumo can be found. Codesign requires Diploma work by Jussi Ukkonen empathy and understanding, but also valuing and defending The experiential nature of the project is based year 2014 your own ideas. on exposure to changing seasons and unpre- location Kuhmo dictable weather conditions. The rational, modular architecture of the vacation property is subjected to the vastness of the woods. During the design process, both parties refected on the project from their own perspective, and the fnal result was infuenced by the dynamic of the collaboration.

26 The fashion industry is Kuhmo Luonnon lumo Fashion House dynamic and constantly Diploma work by Lilli Maunula evolving, so temporary structures and instal- The diploma work explores possibilities to unite and year 2013 lations are natural and strengthen the Finnish fashion scene using the tools location Helsinki suitable for shows and of urban design. The location of the project is an marketing purposes. abandoned grain store in Munkkisaari, and the goal was to prove that fashion culture and events could act as a powerful energizer in the capital of Finland. The intention was also to promote co-working between local fashion companies in partly shared spaces to aid the growth of the Finnish fashion industry. This was somewhat contradicted by the prevalence of trade secrets such as contacts to buyers and suppliers. 27 Project photos

Seinäjoki Library photos Mika Huisman, Tuomas Uusheimo

Olari Skate Park photos provided by the ofce

WDC Pavilion photos Tuomas Uusheimo

WDC Pavilion photos Tuomas Uusheimo, Marko Huttunen

28 Sauna Kotiranta photos James Silverman

Martti Levón’s Park Urban Garden photos Sofa Tigerstedt

Ateljee Heikkilä photos Maija Holma

Viewpoint Pavilion photos Max Creasy, John Sturrock

Four Corner House photos kuvio.com

29 Pyramiden Afterlife photos Anastasia Glukhova

Lahokehä Decaying Garden photos Sofa Tigestedt

Viola Park Apartments photos Johannes Laiho

Kokoon Housing Units photos Tuomas Uusheimo, Marc Goodwin, Juho Haavisto

Huize Looveld photos Marc Goodwin

Kuhmo Luonnon Lumo photos Jussi Ukkonen

30 Jätkäsaari Art Museum photos Samuli Summanen

Taivalsaari Spa and Hotel photos Christopher Delany

Villa Samurai photos Antti Ahlava

Örebro Skate Park photos provided by the ofce

Suomi-Cho photos Olli Vuorinen

Fashion House photos Lilli Maunula

31 32 Exhibition

Exit School of Architecture - exhibition takes the form of an unfolding book, taking apart divergent histories and multiple viewpoints on architecture in order to weave them back together to form a new whole. In the spirit of the projects exhibited, the architecture of the exhibition transforms its location into a place to linger, inviting the visitor to pull up a chair and contemplate their surroundings.

Exhibition Plan

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33 34 Exhibition Frontal View 0 20 50 100cm

35 36 37 Aalto-ADA 3/2018 SCIENCE + SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY CROSSOVER DOCTORAL BUSINESS + BUSINESS ECONOMY ART + + DESIGN ARCHITECTURE DISSERTATIONS

Aalto University Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture Department of Architecture www.aalto.fi ISBN 978-952-60-7830-4 ISBN 978-952-60-7830-4 ISBN 978-952-60-7831-1 (pdf) ISSN 1799-4853 ISSN 1799-4861 (electronic)

9HSTFMG*ahidae+ Aalto-ADA 3/2018 BUSINESS + BUSINESS ECONOMY ART + + DESIGN ARCHITECTURE + SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY CROSSOVER DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS

ISBN 978-952-60-7830-4 ISBN 978-952-60-7830-4 ISBN 978-952-60-7831-1 (pdf) ISSN 1799-4853 ISSN 1799-4861 (electronic) Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture Department of Architecture www.aalto.fi

9HSTFMG*ahidae+