Fjällbo Park Jetty and Swimming Pavilion
Architects Risto Huttunen, Santeri Lipasti, Satoshi Ohtaki, Tomas Hartman
Location Aleksis Kiven Kuja 2, Tuusula
Gross Area 30 m2
Completion 2019
Designers comment – Risto Huttunen, Santeri Lipasti: In the spring of 2019, as part of a project to develop the recreational use of the Lake Tuusula waterfront, the municipality of Tuusula organised an invited competition for the design of a combined jetty and swimming pavilion on the shoreline of Fjällbo Park. Our proposal titled “Pliplap” was chosen as the winning entry.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the area around Tuusulan Rantatie, the road that runs alongside the lake, was home to an artist community with several villas. Many of the villas at that time had their own jetty with a swimming pavilion at the end. The competition sought to restore a piece of history, reinterpreted for the shoreline landscape. The jetty and swimming pavilion serve as a waiting area for boats on the lake as well as a resting spot on a nature trail from where people can enjoy the lake scenery. In the winter, the pavilion becomes a changing room for ice swimmers and tour skaters.
The defining premise for the competition was the small budget, so we set out to find a solution that would make the jetty and pavilion as simple as possible, yet provide an impactful concept. We wanted to create a small route on the jetty, a sequence of spaces from which vistas open up, and sheltered spots from the wind and rain. The small sculptural pavilion, constructed from simple panel elements, is a tribute to the history of the Tuusula artist community.
The only significant change in the implementation of the design from the competition phase was the change from a pile-based structure to a floating one. In addition, the open fireplace at the end of the jetty was removed for fire-safety reasons. The challenges were related to the floating structure – the jetty is asymmetric and subject to wind loads. The builder succeeded, however, in meeting the structural challenges on a very tight schedule and the implementation in the end was successful. ↙
Photos Marko Huttunen
Ecological Matters with Huttunen-Lipasti
What ecological choices were there in the design of the jetty and swimming pavilion?
The most significant choice was the building material. We chose Siberian larch for the surface material. It possesses nature’s own impregnating agents and requires neither surface treatment nor maintenance treatment. The thicknesses were also chosen so as to achieve an appropriate lifespan.
During the competition phase, the jetty frame was designed to be supported by wooden pillars. But due to the conditions on the bottom of the lake and the relatively large variations in the water level, floating concrete pontoons were eventually chosen. Although this solution is longer-lasting, it nevertheless places a greater strain on the environment.
How do you think the project supports an ecological lifestyle?
The jetty with the swimming pavilion encourages people to explore the local nature. It facilitates the recreational use of Lake Tuusula and its shorelines. It comprises a simple structure that does not consume energy, but rather reenergises its users.
How is ecology currently reflected in the work of your office?
We are constantly thinking about how we could improve the environmental performance of our projects. We have been looking for partners, for both design and implementation, who have the will and expertise to execute sustainable development solutions. We provide ecological energy solutions for projects, and when it comes to building materials, the ecological aspects are strongly incorporated into the selection criteria. ↙