BIG architects: puu bo, 1st prize e2 timber competition in finland

‘puu-bo’ by bjarke ingels group in kouvola, finland all images courtesy bjarke ingels group

‘puu-bo’ by internationally renowned firm BIG is the first-prizing winning design of the international e2 (economy + ecology) timber competition in finland. a collaborative effort with pirmin jung engineers for wood constructions, AOA anttinen oiva architects ltd., vahanen engineers and stora enso, the 15,000 m2 housing project in kouvola is developed for maximum flexibility, embracing as many building typologies and functionalities as possible. being of wooden construction, the system aims to be sustainable in both its construction and consumption.

aerial view

located adjacent to the water, the serpentine form defines and divides the plot into parks, parking and public, social spaces. reaching a maximum height of eight storeys, each unit is orientated to provide a unique view of the landscape.

rather than pinning the design around a single-time market study, the project is developed to evolve over time, ultimately being driven by new sustainable methods which enable it to remain competitive with other building systems. applicable to a number of functional needs, markets, building codes, and energy demands, ‘puu-bo’ works with the available resources in the finnish market for better performance and the generation of qualitative spaces for the masses.

from the water

exterior view

during winter

(top left) required massing on site (top right) park & parking (bottom left) volume adjustment (bottom right) views

landscaping and connections

different typologies

massing model

exploded axo

project info: size: 15,000 m2, 8 storey prefabricated wood construction client: city of kouvola, finland collaborators: AOA, pirmin jung holzbauingenieur, vahanen, stora enso partner in charge: bjarke ingels, thomas christoffersen project leader: brian yang team: krista meskanen, jelena vucic, alina tamosiunaite, alessandro ronfini, cecilia ho, elisha nathoo, sunming lee, long zhuo, mads bjorn christiansen