Architect Pieta-Linda Auttila has completed a prototype WISA Wooden Design Hotel in Helsinki, Finland, featuring a sculptural, wooden trellis between two box-like ends. The WISA Wooden Design Hotel is based on the winning proposal of the WISA 24h Wooden Design Workshop competition organized by UPM, one of the leading forest products companies in the world.

Nearly 100 designers took part. A total of 75 entries were submitted.

Location: Valkosaari island in Southern Harbor of Helsinki, Finland:

Competition

The objective of the competition was to produce an iconic creation that expresses strong vision and the flight of a free spirit. This sculptural landmark would be Helsinki’s equivalent of the Little Mermaid – a sight that attracts architects, designers and the general public alike. Only Finnish wood in its various forms could be used in the competition proposal.

The jury, composed of professionals of architecture, wood construction and design, considered the competition very successful. Eight entries were selected for the short list. The jury was unanimous in choosing interior architect Ms Pieta-Linda Auttila’s entry as the winner of the competition. The jury also presented two second prizes and three honourable mentions. Below are the jury’s short descriptions of these entries.

Winning Design

‘The strength of the winning entry lies in its search for form. Auttila has also taken into account the uniquely impressive site of the building in the embrace of the sea but firmly grounded in the city. The jury commends the simple solution where the brilliant idea was to situate a cosy outdoor area (atrium) right in the center. The behavior of light throughout the day plays a significant role there. Bending the wood to half-cover the atrium posed an interesting challenge. The bedroom and the lounging area with views onto the city and the sea offer excellent opportunities for using wood in the interior.’

The first thing that catches the eye is the atrium courtyard in the center. The long curved pine boards half-covering the patio form a trellis that titillates the imagination. The trellis protects against the wind and filters the long rays of the Nordic sun into the courtyard. The charming interplay of light and shade can be observed throughout the day, as the bright morning light gradually turns into the red glow of the Northern midnight sun.

The striking wood architecture makes its way to the living quarters. The pine floor is complemented by the light ethereal beauty of Nordic birch. The walls and the ceiling are panelled with beautiful and durable birch plywood. Light comes in at both ends of the living quarters through floor-to-ceiling windows that brighten the interior. From the bedroom you can admire the morning sun and the sea, while the view from the lounging area opens onto the city and the evening sun.

This is how designer Pieta-Linda Auttila describes her idea: ‘In the beginning was the roaring sea. Powerful waves lifted from the depths a wooden block, already darkened by sea water, and threw it against a rock. The force of the blow broke the wood in the middle. The curved part, slashed into strips in the middle, forms a trellis and shelters the atrium of the hotel. As for the unbroken ends, they are the living quarters. The dark exterior and light interior of the WISA Wooden Design Hotel likewise represent a broken block of wood. When the dark surface of the block is broken, the original lightness of the wood comes to light.’

The WISA Wooden Design Hotel is a temporary building that will remain in place in Valkosaari until the end of September 2009. The building can provide overnight accommodation for a few people, but it is not designed for general hotel use.

From Pieta-Linda Auttila’ project description:

‘By bending the block I forced the slats into a new form that contrasts with the original arrangement. That which is solid turns partly transparent, that which is strictly geometrical, organic.’

WISA Wooden Design Hotel is an architectural gem of wood situated in the maritime heart of Helsinki, capital of Finland. Around it lie the city and 200 years of architectural history.

The work was designed by interior architect Pieta-Linda Auttila. She hopes to spark interest in wood and highlight its role in building and interior design.

The WISA Wooden Design Hotel is an outstanding example of wood’s versatility. Here, wood works both as a load-bearing structure and decor in walls, ceilings and floors. The building is a composition of Finnish pine, spruce and birch, and a testimonial to their special characteristics.

When you view the building from a distance, your eye is first caught by the atrium courtyard in the center; it separates the living quarters at both ends.

The atrium’s shape flatters the liveliness of wood; technically it is the most challenging part of the design.

The long curved pine boards half-covering the patio form a trellis that titillates the imagination. Thanks to the trellis, the courtyard comes alive in a dizzying and enchanting way.

The trellis protects against the wind and filters the long rays of the Nordic sun into the courtyard. The charming interplay of light and shade can be observed throughout the day, as the bright morning light gradually turns into the red glow of the Northern midnight sun.

The striking wood architecture makes its way to the interior, giving Finnish pine another chance to show what it’s made of. But not alone. The pine floor is complemented by the light ethereal beauty of Nordic birch. The walls and the ceiling are paneled with beautiful and durable birch plywood.

This is how Pieta-Linda Auttila describes the idea she realized with the WISA Wooden Design Hotel: ‘In the beginning was the roaring sea. Powerful waves lifted from the depths a wooden block, already darkened by sea water, and threw it against a rock. The force of the blow broke the wood in the middle.’

The building can provide overnight accommodation for a few people, but it is not designed for general hotel use.