What the new sites in Oulunkylä have in common is sustainable construction and paying attention to the residents' perspective.
The Living Building changes over time based on needs
A part of the Re-thinking Urban Housing programme, the Living Building project, will be completed on Käskynhaltijantie street in Oulunkylä in June, and the residents will be able to move in at the end of the month. The site has 47 rental homes with the potential to grow to up to 57 homes.
The Living Building has been developed by Arkta Reponen Oy on behalf of Suomen Keskuskodit Oy and designed by Karin Krokfors Architects.
The aim with the Living Building was to build a high-rise where the premises can withstand the test of time and serve the changing and individual needs of the residents. In the Living Building, the sizes and layouts of the homes can be easily modified throughout building’s life span. The apartment type distribution or layout solutions are never bound to any specific apartment sizes and applications.
The housing units have their own entrances and can be combined and separated into various types of homes of different sizes. The building’s diverse and resident-oriented space efficiency is achieved by means of a new patented building system, which combines building automation and the building’s load-bearing structures in an entirely new way. The solution does not restrict the external architecture or spatial design.
An 'old-fashioned high-rise' is new and exceptional these days
A Re-thinking Urban Housing project, titled the Sustainable Housing Block, was completed on Käskynhaltijantie in Oulunkylä in March, and the residents moved in at the end of March.
The Sustainable Housing Block is a site developed by Kestävät Kodit Oy and designed by Avarrus Architects Ltd. The site has 29 owner-occupied homes.
The Sustainable Housing Block uses technical solutions that have been deemed durable over the centuries. The result is an energy-efficient, sustainable, healthy and comfortable high-rise. The Sustainable Housing Block project uses select solid construction methods and natural plastic-free construction materials in combination with the latest technology and fresh modern architecture.
The possibilities afforded by a solid brick frame and natural ventilation are being explored as technical and architectural solutions for constructing new apartments. Solid stone construction is a reliable solution in terms of moisture performance and also lends the building a unique and sustainable character.
More Re-thinking Urban Housing sites to be built in Oulunkylä
In addition to the Living Building and the Sustainable Housing Block, two other Re-thinking Urban Housing projects are being planned for Oulunkylä.
The same area will also feature the Wooden Apartment Block of the Future site with the aim of constructing three housing buildings with different structures: a high-rise with a solid wood frame, a hybrid-frame high-rise (concrete and solid wood) and another hybrid-frame high-rise (concrete and log-frame elements). The aim is to explore the significance of using timber for the procurement decision on constructing the building and the other attraction factors of using timber in housing and to develop timber construction from a business point of view.
Another project being planned is the Timber High-rise. The project will explore a new and modern hybrid timber high-rise with high-quality architecture that will fit the cityscape of both new and old Helsinki neighbourhoods. The project will develop and diversify the current image of wooden high-rises.
The Re-thinking Urban Housing programme develops the quality of high-rise living
The Re-thinking Urban Housing programme was launched by the City of Helsinki with the aim of developing the quality of high-rise living and introducing exceptional pioneering projects to housing production. The programme meets the needs for improvement in the design and construction of residential buildings in terms of technical aspects, functionality, aesthetics, social aspects, housing policy and the construction process.
The programme offers developers an opportunity to try something new and receive support from City experts for the development. For residents, the programme offers new housing alternatives and examples of how to improve the quality of high-rise living.
The Re-thinking Urban Housing programme began in 2009, and so far, it has involved over 40 projects. The programme also organises a plot draw every year.