MEANDER HOUSING
Helsinki, Finland 2024
Description +
PROGRAM: 94 apartments, 500 sm rental space, garage, rooftop sauna and scenic path
CLIENT: City of Helsinki & Senate Properties
SIZE: 95,650 sf
STATUS: construction
Located in Helsinki’s cultural and historical district Taka-Töölö along the Taivallahti Bay, the site of Meander housing is enclosed by the Taivallahti Barracks, two apartment buildings and an office block. Out of this bounded inner block the 8886 sm building rises in section towards the sea horizon, providing breathing space to the historic barracks and maximizing views and sunlight to the ninety-four apartments in the new building. The 180-meter-long glass building with a height varying from two to seven floors travels across the rectangular courtyard like a musical score, shaping garden void spaces within the block. Meander is carried by load bearing perpendicular concrete walls and glazed with horizontally hinged glass panels. During the evenings, the building glows like an ice sculpture.
The apartments, ranging from studios to four-bedrooms, feature private saunas, balconies, and views of the Baltic Sea or Hesperia Park. Pivoting walls maximize spatial variations, and can be controlled by residents. Among the public spaces for residents is a rooftop sauna with sea views and a scenic path spanning the full building length. The building is an exemplar of sustainable practices with the installation of fifty geothermal wells, solar panels on the roof, and radiant floor heating and cooling throughout its apartments.
Ecological Innovation +
– geothermal heating and cooling (50 wells)
– extensive green roof
– solar array
– rainwater harvesting in landscape
– local materials, including sustainably harvested Finnish spruce wood on exterior cladding, balconies and windows
– natural light and air via balconies to every unit
Credits +
architect
- Steven Holl Architects
Steven Holl (design architect)
Noah Yaffe (partner in charge)
JongSeo Lee (project architect, senior associate)
Alfonso Simelio, Okki Berendschot, Hannah Ahlblad, Sungjoon Chae, Yiqing Zhao (project team)
local architect
- ARK-house Architects
Pentti Kareoja (principal architect)
- Vesa Honkonen Architects
Vesa Honkonen (principal architect, competition)
Anja Hämäläinen, Mari Koskinen, Tina Olli, Jaana Tiikkaja, Erika de Martino (project team, competition)
structural engineer
- Tero Aaltonen
- Matti Ollila & Co.
- Consulting Engineers Ltd.
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News +
