Helsinki-based archtecture practice Anttinen Oiva Architects has built a solid wooden office and hotel building that becomes a pioneering example of sustainable wood construction in a sensitive urban environment in the waterfront of Helsinki, Finland.

Katajanokan Laituri, the first modern structure on the once-industrial Katajanokka waterfront that directly connects to Helsinki's famous marine cityscape, leads the transformation of this embankment into an open urban area that is available to everyone.

Along its southern coastline, it maintains Helsinki's consistent, neo-classical profile, but its façade's winding curves break its scale and link it to the varied, multi-layered building stock of the Katajanokka peninsula. 

In addition to connecting the building to the larger metropolis, a double-structure on the façade with an outer covering of glass, aluminum, and granite that shields the exposed wood structures from the marine weather giving it a distinctive character that varies with the time of day and the four seasons.

The structure comprises four stories, a green rooftop terrace that is open to the public, and a basement with parking and technological amenities. 

A hotel occupies part of the structure, which was intended to serve as the new headquarters of the top Nordic forestry firm, Stora Enso.

The street-level areas have a huge, shared open foyer, a restaurant, a café, and conference facilities. They are connected to the city on all sides. 

Over the course of a long lifecycle, the interior can be as flexible and adaptable as possible thanks to the structural system and space design. 

The natural diversity of wood as a building material is demonstrated by the exposed spruce structures and the meticulous spruce and ash craftsmanship. A preference for natural, sustainable materials that will age gracefully has influenced the interior design.

In addition to wood, the building is connected to its urban surroundings by the light gray granite utilized on the façade and the pavement both inside and outside. 

Inspired by northern nature, the building's outdoor areas include archipelago meadows on the rooftop and a birch grove in the courtyard.

The goal of reducing long-term climate impacts and optimizing the use of renewable resources and materials has served as the project's compass. 

Standard, industrial, prefabricated Stora Enso enormous wood items tailored for innovative structural and architectural solutions are used in the building's above-ground structures. 

Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), manufactured in Varkaus, Finland, is used to construct the façade and the post-beam frame. Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) manufactured in Gruvön, Sweden, is used for the floor and roof structures, as well as the inner walls and lift and staircase shafts that reinforce the structure. 2,500 wood components and 7,600 m³ of spruce make up the complete frame.

Due to the building's close proximity to the sea, the construction project included considerable flood protection measures. 

This location is at the forefront of the reactivation, reinforcement, and elevation of the entire embankment since it is the first block rehabilitated on the Katajanokka waterfront. 

The building opens the door for the embankment to be permanently rebuilt in the future as a continuous public area extending from the Market Square to the tip of Katajanokka.

Image © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image © Tuomas Uusheimo

The Helsinki-based architecture firm Anttinen Oiva Architects (AOA) was established by Selina Anttinen and Vesa Oiva in 2008. The Finlandia Prize for Architecture and the Finnish State Prize for Architecture have been awarded to Anttinen Oiva Architects.

Project facts

Project name: Katajanokan Laituri

Architect: Anttinen Oiva Architects

Location: Helsinki, Finland 

Timeline: Invitational competition 2020, completion 2024 

Area: gross ~23,000 m2, building floor area ~16,400 m2 

Client: Mutual Pension Insurance Company Varma 

Project management: Haahtela-rakennuttaminen 

Main users: Stora Enso Oyj, Sokos hotels / Solo Sokos Hotel Pier 4 

Interior design / Stora Enso premises and main lobby: Anttinen Oiva Architects 

Interior design / Pier 4 hotel facilities: Franz 

Structural design: Sweco Rakennetekniikka 

Fire engineering planning: KK-Palokonsultti 

Landscape design: Nomaji Landscape Architects 

Acoustic design: Akukon 

HVAC, Electrical and Life Cycle Planning: Granlund 

GEO planning: Sitowise

All images © Kalle Kouhia unless otherwise stated. 

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Anttinen Oiva Architects CLT Helsinki hotel LVL office waterfront wood