bornstein lyckefors architects creates timber-clad museum in sweden

bornstein lyckefors architects creates timber-clad museum in sweden
all images courtesy of bornstein lyckefors architecture

a short trip outside torsby, sweden, a timber façade juts from the middle of the forest. once a schoolhouse, the building has been renovated to house the ‘torsby finnskog center’. the cultural museum showcases finn building techniques and crafts, and also explores their history, traditions, and folklore. working with only raw materials from the surrounding forest, architecture firm bornstein lyckefors hoped to design an ‘expression mark’ to effectively communicate the project’s finnish roots. 

model of existing structure and timber façade

the façade consists of 300 logs cut from the area. after removing the bark, the untreated logs were cleaved in half and mounted on a rack that encloses the schoolhouse. behind the timber, the school was painted black to resemble traditional smokehouses that can be found in the nearby city of torsby. wooden boxes protrude from various sections of the walls, leaving places for visitors to sit and rest, and also opening the form for entry and sunlight. 

timber structure 

all timber was left untreated and will age alongside the school 

materials were sourced from the surrounding area 

protruding wooden boxes transformed recessed areas into urban furniture

walkway 

entrance to building 

detail of lumber 

interior of museum 

wooden furniture and artwork 

floor plan

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