Photo Essay: In the Shadow of a Spectacle
A great tension in the urban space has arisen in Espoo in the 2020s, between the city built in the 1960s–1990s and the large, bold construction projects that are rapidly demanding the space for themselves. Photographer Henri Salonen has captured the city’s transformation.
Whose Voice Is Heard?
An architect can use their professional skills to ensure that the needs of more residents are taken into account in urban planning. The Elonkirjon kaupunki project develops alternative plans as a means to tackle the shortcomings of both official participation processes and urban activism.
Glimpse of the Sea
The apartment buildings at the edge of the Haukilahdenranta linked house district introduce a new scale to the area.
A Hospital on the Arctic Circle
The new extension to the Lapland Central Hospital complements rationally the old main hospital building, but at the same time represents a new, more humane healthcare environment.
A Park in a School
The large school building blends seamlessly with its park-like surrounds thanks to two wise design insights.
What Did We Learn from the Previous Building Boom?
For the past couple of years, housebuilding has been stagnant across Finland. Homes built during the boom years that preceded the downturn have come under sustained criticism for their poor quality. What should the industry do differently when construction activity picks up again? We asked five architects to share their solutions.
Unique, Personalised and Urban Housing
When an architect or client sets out to build a multistorey residential building for their own use, the end result is often more intriguing than what is typically generated through ordinary housing production – for example, a home base for a theatrical community or a combination of a private home and an editorial office for an architectural journal.
Towards Housing Design for Shared Living
Shared living challenges the established principles of what is considered good housing design.
On the Power of Communal Living
When it comes to communal living, our differences can foster a reciprocal relationship, where no one is there to purely provide or receive support.