Vantaa, Finland
Located in the heart of Aviapolis, the emerging business and entertainment hub of the city of Vantaa, Huttunen-Lipasti Architects have completed a new showroom and event center pavilion that acts as a venue for meetings, events, and culture alike.
Aviapolis X has recently been awarded a 2023 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
It is planned to serve the area for five to ten years, after which it will be moved to an alternative location.
Due to its simple element structure of massive wood, the building can easily be disassembled and rebuilt.
Next to the buzzing Helsinki-Vantaa airport, the modern alleys and squares of Aviapolis unfold to its various visitors – from politicians and diplomats to business sharks and tourists.
The urban plan of the area aims at carbon neutrality, and the municipality reinforces innovative use cases of renewable energy.
The building’s strong triangular and diagonal forms spark eminent curiosity in the outside viewer. Inside, the shapes contribute to a memorable spatial experience.
The three-dimensional aluminum sculpture on the facades, together with the vast use of wood, contribute to a unique, warm ambiance.
The burn-treated black box in the core of the building, made of massive wood, contains all the supporting facilities and technical spaces.
The aluminum facade is an integrated artwork by the sculptor Villu Jaanisoon.
Where the construction industry is slouching towards a circular economy, Aviapolis X is fully planned around the principles of ecology.
In addition to the building’s ability to be transported to another location, all of the building materials have been recycled or will be recyclable after use.
One of the core aims of the project has been to pave the way for increasingly innovative and sustainable use of construction materials.
However, the considerations for sustainability are reflected in the design of Aviapolis X beyond the choice of materials.
For one, its green roofs, rich in biodiversity, nurture pollinators and other insects in the emerging urban environment.
Project: Aviapolis X
Architects: Huttunen-Lipasti Architects
Lead Architects: Santeri Lipasti and Risto Huttunen
Design Team: Satoshi Ohtaki
General Contractor: Bluet Ltd.
Client: City of Vantaa
Photographers: Marko Huttunen
