Juror

When it comes to architecture, I’m a self-confessed amateur. Which is why I very nearly turned down the honour of selecting the winner of this year’s Finlandia Prize for Architecture. Fortunately for me, I didn’t, having eventually come to the realisation that, as we interact with architecture on a daily basis, we are all, in a casual sense, experts in it.

Then I got to know the shortlisted projects and had the further happy realisation that there can be no wrong decision here. Because, without a doubt, every single one of the shortlistees is worthy of the prize.

So, having accepted the role, I set myself a rather ambitious aim: to choose the winner in light of my own work, travelling around the world as a journalist, covering wars and other crises. Can architecture help us build a way towards peaceful coexistence?

If my site visits proved anything, it was that .in Finland at least, the answer to my question is a resounding yes. Wonderful new buildings are being built for all sorts of people, not just the wealthy few. And they’re sustainable too. That’s really quite something.

Lamminrahka School

On my travels, I’ve often wondered how it is that the only proper building a village often has is a religious one. Why not invest in a local hospital, or a school for that matter?

As it turns out, that is exactly what they’ve done at Lamminrahka. A truly excellent new school building has been created here in what is to be the heart of a brand new urban district. After school has finished for the day, members of the local community will be able to use it for sports and other activities.

The Lamminrahka School building is modern and lends itself to a variety of uses. It has no cafeteria, just an exciting atrium space with all sorts of nooks and crannies where the children can sit down for their lunch. And because this is not just a school but also the beating heart of a brand new residential district, there is a stage in the middle of the space. It is intended for small-scale concerts, theatre productions or just hanging out.

The design insightfully accounts for the needs of everyone in the building, from nursery-age kids to secondary school pupils. Layout-wise, the building opens out in five different directions, not unlike a star.

Though intended for 800 children, and therefore large by Finnish standards, the school building manages not have a cold, hangar-like feel about it. The day care centre, for example, has been set up almost as a little universe all of its own, complete with a sheltered outdoor play area next to a woodland. This is a building that succeeds in being both small and large at the same time.

The spatial design here is second to none. The facades distinguish between different sections of the building; at the rear, the cladding is all wood, while the front elevation has brick.

Tapiola Church

If this prize were awarded on purely aesthetic grounds, Tapiola Church might just have walked away with the gong this year. Its Aarno Ruusuvuori designed interior from the 1960s is a truly breathtaking sight. It is particularly commendable that every effort has been made during the refurbishment project to retain the building’s original look and even preserve the patina that has developed here over time.

As is common with many buildings of this era, Tapiola Church has struggled with indoor air quality issues. In this instance, the instinct has not been to demolish and rebuild but to recognise the value of what is already there.

It was only during my visit to the church that I came to appreciate just how much effort the design team have made to conceal the state-of-the-art ventilation solutions from view. For that alone, I doff my hat to them. What this project convincingly demonstrates is that indoor air quality issues can be remedied through refurbishment. It’s important that we don’t give in to the urge to raze.

The staff at the church are delighted with the end result. It appears that the works have not only resolved the air quality issues but also presented an opportunity to reconfigure the space to better meet the needs of today’s building users. Retaining the old and updating it is by no means an easy undertaking but, compared with the other option, it is the sustainable choice.

If we are to remember our past, we must protect our built heritage. Places that are richly layered with history are always the most exciting ones.

Lastu campus building

The Lastu campus building at Lake Tuusulanjärvi is an excellent example of what can be achieved through timber construction. Lastu is full of unexpected shapes and sights. During my visit, every single building user I spoke to had only positive things to contribute. I was particularly moved to hear two students with additional needs happily sharing their thoughts on their fantastic new school. “Who wouldn’t want to learn in a space like this,” was how their teacher put it.

The spacious rooms are full of light, the timber structures delivering excellent acoustics and aesthetics. A building of this calibre is a rare thing indeed. It offers first rate facilities to everyone within it, including those with additional needs.

A raft of education and training opportunities are on offer here, aimed at a range of different groups, including people who have recently settled in Finland. An enormous gym, next door to a fully equipped hairdressing salon, has wonderful views of the nearby lake.

The idea here is not to confine people in silos but to allow everyone to come together and work side by side. At the heart of the building is a wide-open space that’s ideal for socialising and relaxing. A sweeping staircase doubles as auditorium seating when the movable partition is put away. The physical presence of the building came as a positive surprise, both indoors and out. The building is large but blends well into its setting which comprises buildings of all ages.

It has been wonderful to see how prevalent timber construction has become in Finland and the many uses to which the material lends itself.

Hyytiälä Forest Station

Hyytiälä Forest Station’s new main building is an excellent demonstration of what can be achieved through timber construction and an innovative approach to design. Visitors to the forest station go there to learn and conduct research, and I’m certain everyone will be keen to stay the night.

The designers have created a series of wonderfully atmospheric spaces at Hyytiälä. They reminded me of the kind of lodges you would come across on safari in Africa, although the actual inspiration here is drawn from Japan.

The buildings, suspended above ground through the use of pillars, have an airy feel about them. All bedrooms open out onto a spacious patio that wraps around buildings. It is a feature that is as practical as it is delightful. There are no narrow corridors here, and no need to bring your muddy field kit like wellies and waterproofs indoors.

The architects’ creative flair is also in evidence indoors. Though modestly proportioned, the twin rooms are split over two levels, offering a pleasing sense of privacy.

The cafeteria helps to foster a sense of community for the residents. With wooden floors, vast windows and a tapestry covering an expanse of wall, this space is a handsome sight. Some attention is due to the windows, however, to reduce the risk they pose to birds.

Outdoors, there is a choice of skilfully designed seating areas. The new wooden buildings at Hyytiälä do a great job of fitting in amongst the early 20th century building stock already here.

Tammela Stadium

Despite the obvious strengths of the other shortlisted projects, I have chosen Tammela Stadium as the winner of this year’s Finlandia Prize for Architecture. My choice, it should be pointed out, is not motivated by the scale and impact of the building. It is made in recognition of the skill the architects have shown in coming up with a truly novel urban design solution. In a bold move, they have created a stadium that is largely hidden from view.

The stadium sits on what is a modestly proportioned plot of land surrounded by residential buildings. A first-time visitor might well pass here without ever realising they are in the presence of a well-appointed football venue.

Tammela Stadium is less a monument or a piece of architectural eye candy and more a secret destination, a well-concealed shrine to football whose existence only becomes apparent as you actually enter it.

The main entrance, elegantly insinuated into a narrow stretch of street, instantly gives you a clue as to what the building is about. Inside, a series of stylish architectural forms, are made of concrete and steel. The spaces, all wonderfully fit for purpose, have been created with a range of uses in mind.

Insightfully, this development is not dedicated to football alone. The stadium building is enveloped by housing and commercial property.

Though the building materials used here are not the most environmentally friendly available, the stadium is built without any parking, and it is intended that visitors will arrive by public transport.
Importantly, the stadium is not exclusively dedicated to football and has been designed with concerts and other events in mind.

In creating Tammela Stadium, the designers have made a bold and fresh contribution to Finnish urban design and urban culture.

And as for my ambitious aim: did I manage to choose a project capable of promoting peace and stability? I don’t know. But I do feel that all of the projects I visited promote harmony. A commitment to sustainability and to meeting the needs of all groups in society are key to peaceful coexistence. Finland can rightly be proud of its contemporary architecture.