JKMM architects: finnish pavilion at shanghai expo 2010

'kirnu' ('giant's kettle) is JKMM architects winning design for the finnish pavilion at the
shanghai world expo 2010. head designer of the project is architect teemu kurkela.
the overall vision for the pavilion was to portray finland in a microcosm, as a miniature city,
with the interior of the pavilion tells stories of finland and its people.


finnish pavilion - kirnu
image courtesy of JKMM architects

the story of finland begins in the times of the ice ages, when the country was covered by a
several kilometer thick layer of ice, whose movement shaped the coastline, lakes and islands
of finnish land. the ice age also created giant's kettles, cavities naturally formed in a bedrock
as a result of heavy ice drilling stones through this bedrock. a hollow space resembling one
of these giant's kettles can also be found in the center of the finnish pavilion, kirnu.

the sculptural architecture of kirnu draws on nature. the pavilion is to be considered something
like an island, its formal language, free without symmetry. it will be surrounded by a mirror of water,
with its surface covered by shingles resembling those of fish scales. as one begins to approach
the building, the subtle, scaly surface will begin to take shape. visitors will walk on a bridge
towards the main entrance, whose sheer fabric surfaces will form a portal to the pavilion.
the wooden floor will resemble that of a dock, with the smell of tar. there is also a gently sloping
ramp ascending within the thick walls of kirnu's exhibition hall, a high space which winds around
the atrium. after the exhibition hall, the ramp continues downward to the exit, shop and restaurant area.

the pavilion was designed entirely by computer with the environment and sustainability taken
into consideration. energy consumption will be minimized, with heat stress caused by the sun
reduced by the direction in which the facilities face. the thick atrium walls, building materials
and construction methods have been selected with the aim of minimizing CO2 emissions.
the most visible example of the reuse and recycling of materials can be found in the pavilion's façade.
the scale-like shingles are made of a mixture of paper and plastic which are a recycled product
of the industry. therefore, waste is recycled into a new construction material, a paper-plastic
composite which is waterproof.

the natural elements of water and sky are main elements of the architecture. people, nature
and technology have come together and the pavilion will provide a forum for discussions
about development policies for a better life.


exterior day view
image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


exterior night view
image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


the textured exterior surface which resembles fish scales
image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


rendered detail of scales which are made of a recycled paper and plastic composite
image courtesy of JKMM architects


rendering detail of scales
image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


the entrance is small and shady, the inner atrium opening towards the sky and the clouds
image courtesy of JKMM architects


the VIP entrance area
image courtesy of JKMM architects


VIP reception area
image courtesy of JKMM architects


the sloping ramp which ascends the pavilion's walls
image courtesy of JKMM architects


interior view of ramp
image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


VIP lounging space
image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


sheer walls of fabric form a portal within the pavilion
image courtesy of JKMM architects


model of the finnish pavilion
image courtesy of JKMM architects


structural rendering of the pavilion
image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


aerial floor plan with large graphics of fish 'swimming' through the space
image courtesy of JKMM architects

image courtesy of JKMM architects


image courtesy of JKMM architects


split profile view
image courtesy of JKMM architects

Finland Pavilion Kirnu from finlandatexpo2010 on Vimeo.

finnish pavilion as of july 28th, 2009
images courtesy of finland at expo 2010 shanghai


finnish pavilion as of july 28th, 2009
images courtesy of finland at expo 2010 shanghai


finnish pavilion as of july 28th, 2009
images courtesy of finland at expo 2010 shanghai


finnish pavilion as of august 18th, 2009
images courtesy of finland at expo 2010 shanghai


finnish pavilion as of august 18th, 2009
images courtesy of finland at expo 2010 shanghai


finnish pavilion as of november 12th, 2009
images courtesy of finland at expo 2010 shanghai