Espoo, Finland
Aiming to demonstrate Espoo’s commitment to developing innovative solutions for future environmental and social challenges, Lundén Architecture Company and Cobe have unveiled a 24,000-square-meter hybrid municipal building, primarily made of wood, inspired by the city’s urban and natural surroundings.
Espoo House stands out for its ambitious use of wood and close connection with the urban and natural surroundings, demonstrating Espoo’s commitment to developing innovative solutions for future environmental and social challenges.
The design proposes a new distinctive house for the people that strengthens the future identity of Espoo.
“Espoo House will be open to all and be an active interface and meeting place for the citizens and decision-makers who together contribute to the positive development of Espoon Keskus,” says Eero Lundén, Founder of Lundén Architecture Company.
“It will be a new kind of administrative building, built to support a more open and participatory society. With an environmentally conscious construction, it provides a good foundation for a healthy urban life at the heart of Espoo,” adds Lundén.
“Espoo House will be constructed primarily of wood; columns and beams of mass timber, slabs of CLT, and a wooden clad façade, continuing Finland’s rich tradition of building in wood,” explains Dan Stubbergaard, Founder of Cobe.
“While minimizing the emission of CO2 compared to traditional concrete constructions, wood will also be visible throughout the building and create a warm atmosphere and quality.”
“Unlike historical, large-scale and formal city halls, we envision a human, social and tactile house for the people, and an urban living room for community building.”
The building is part of a larger masterplan for the so-called Espoon Keskus, one of five major urban centres in Espoo, creating a diverse neighbourhood with new residential buildings, commercial facilities, public transportation, and green urban spaces.
By introducing an urban structure that extends from north to south, and across the train tracks, the project provides a robust foundation for unifying the strongly divided sides of the city.
The project seeks to reinforce Espoo’s role in Finland and internationally as an attractive city centre for art, science and economy.
The ground floor is an open and flexible extension of the public outdoor spaces. The public spaces extend vertically within the building, from the ground to the topmost level.
An atrium-like public space transforms its shape and size on each floor, providing flexible and diverse meeting places for all.
The atrium also allows natural light to fill the central parts of the building.
The top floor houses a public multi-purpose hall and winter garden, providing an ideal setting for large public events with expansive views over the city and surrounding landscapes.
Project: Espoo House
Architects: Cobe and Lundén Architecture Company
Lead Architects: Eero Lundén and Dan Stubbergaard
Client: The City of Espoo
Photographers: Cobe and Lundén Architecture Company
