Ilmakirja Gives a Voice to the Supporters of Natural Ventilation
The book Ilmakirja is the most comprehensive presentation on natural ventilation in Finnish context by so far – yet ends up being more of a manifesto than a pure reference book.
Architects as Mediators of Change
Over the recent decades, the temporary use of vacant spaces has been recognised as a sustainable and inclusive approach for managing urban change. For architects, working with temporary uses can be an opportunity to challenge structures that restrict typical architectural work.
How Do You Convert an Office Space into Apartments?
In the Helsinki capital region alone, there are currently around 50 city blocks’ worth of empty office space. On the other hand, there seems to be a constant demand for housing. Under what preconditions are office spaces converted into apartments?
Would Nostalgia Provide Help for the Eco-crisis?
Emotionally charged nostalgia could be a resource for building conservation if used correctly, argue Iida Kalakoski and Riina Sirén.
Two Municipal Halls, Two Fates
Many significant buildings end up on lists for demolition if renovation seems too expensive or a suitable use cannot be found. The everyday built heritage is threatened without a timely protection status.
Construction Waste and the Fiction of Purity
Modern architecture has made a clear distinction between waste and new construction. A more comprehensive understanding of the concept of waste could help us in understanding the issues of demolition and preservation.
Gustaf Estlander, Romanticist and Businessman of Residential Architecture
Just over a hundred years ago, one particular architect in Helsinki had notable financial success with his exuberantly romantic apartment buildings.
Revisit: Lehtovuori House
Architect Olli Lehtovuori’s own house has for already half a century served as a laboratory for residential architecture. Its flexible floorplan based on a traditional two-room farmhouse would be applicable even today.
Everyday Life Conventions
The buildings presented in the Home theme issue made Fernando Nieto think about the design process of a house.