Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects › Based in Helsinki, Finland › T he founders, Professor Ilmari Lahdelma and Professor Rainer Mahlamäki, have been working together since the 1980s › More than 100 prizes won in architecture competitions › Principal works include, e.g., the Museum of the History of Polish Jews (Poland, 2013) and the Urban Environment House (Finland, 2020), › Ongoing designs include, e.g., Zurawie Mixed-Use Block (Poland) and the Lost Shtetl Jewish Museum (Lithuania)

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Showcase of Selected Projects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

POLIN, Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Warsaw, Poland POLIN, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, in Warsaw is LMA’s successful proposal for an international design competition which included such names as Daniel Libeskind, Kengo Kuma & Associates and David Chipperfield. The building was completed in close collaboration with local architects Kuryłowicz & Associates, and is now one of Warsaw’s most important cultural sites.

Warsaw has been one of the most important cities for Jews; before the Second World War there were half a million Jewish inhabitants in the city. The park in which the museum now sits once formed the core of the Warsaw ghetto and a treasured memorial stands to remember the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising that occurred there. Polin works alongside this memorial to tell the story of Polish Jews not only in the contents of the museum, but also in the public spaces and views to each other and the rest of the city that they create.

What LMA’s proposal brought to the international competition was a level of modesty – rather than creating a loud statement – that spoke of the time in which it was constructed, whilst also being the vessel for past and future stories of Polish Jews. The goal was to create a certain silence around the building, a monument not a landmark. The basic form of the building is compact and reserved, not detracting from or overshadowing the surrounding park. The competition jury stated in its evaluation that the concept had been realized “without unnecessary rhetoric, with simplicity and elegance”. From a distance the building envelope blends into its surrounding – dappling the light and reflections with its staggered panels. As one gets closer, the panels reveal clusters of letters – spelling POLIN in Latin and Hebrew letters.

The word translated into English means ‘Poland’ or ‘rest here’.

At the same time, cut right through the building is a soft, undulating gorge – connecting the monument to the Uprising, with the park and the city. In one sense the form looks to evoke ideas

of the parting of the red sea and the cracks in Polish Jewish history. Whilst at the same time it’s meant to only suggest this and more allow the visitor to attach their own symbolism to it. Regardless of what one conjures up, the space creates a calm silence, a transition between outside life and the wealth of history contained within the museum.

The double-curved walls inside are constructed from a load bearing steel frame sprayed with textured concrete – which adds stability to the whole system. The use of computer modelling software was crucial to creating such an intricate structural element which could translate an architectural idea so clearly.

The end result of the façade coming together so cleanly is a testament to the successful interaction of cutting edge software alongside the tested experience of local contractors – collaboration with local architects Kuryłowicz & Associates and software developers Markus Wikar was also crucial. The walls themselves have been crafted from rough concrete into something more resembling soft sandstone – symbolising hope and beauty, whilst also reflecting the general tone of Warsaw. When the day’s light casts reflections and shadows through the exterior glass envelope onto the curved walls within, the inherent hardness of concrete evolves into a tranquil and gentle space for reflection.

The massive spider-system glass wall on the western face of the building opens all this up and creates clear views through to the monument on the other side.

The museum building is a multifunctional centre for research, exhibition, education and culture relating to the Jewish heritage.

The core exhibition area comprises almost five thousand square metres in area, beneath the main lobby. The exhibition presents the different forms and periods of Jewish culture from the Middle Ages until today– the Holocaust is only one of the themes of the exhibition.

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Location Warsaw, Poland

Year 2013

Area 18,000 m2

Programme Multifunctional centre for research, exhibition, education and culture

Shortlisted, among others Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects Studio Daniel Libeskind David Chipperfield Architects Peter Eisenman Architects Kengo Kuma & Associates

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Haltia, Finnish Nature Centre, Espoo, Finland The Finnish Nature and Education Centre Haltia in Espoo, Finland, completed in 2016, is a multi-functional, modern cultural and educational building offering domestic and international visitors exhibitions and information on Finnish nature, as well as restaurant, conference and hiking services. Haltia has received a great deal of attention, not only for its programme, but also for sustainability and for being one of the biggest wooden public buildings in Finland. Consequently, the museum has received the Special Commendation for Sustainability in the European Museum of the Year Award 2015 competition, and the Finnish Wood Prize in 2018. Haltia was also included in the Nordic Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2016, reflecting its true Finnishness.

Haltia is completely immersed in its surroundings. It takes its energy from the sun and the ground, utilising a combination of solar and geothermal systems, which is stored in the rock beneath the building and a system of batteries.

Haltia’s Nature School, exhibitions and the surrounding natural environment give school groups the opportunity to learn, experience, be inspired and try things for themselves; virtually all the comprehensive school classes of the Capital Region visit Haltia approximately once a year. At Haltia, young people are introduced to Finland’s unique and diverse nature as well as to the dialogue between Finnish culture and nature. Haltia’s Nature School also emphasizes biodiversity, hiking skills and environmental responsibility.

With such important goals, especially in today’s world, it was crucial that the architecture of the centre clearly reflected these ambitions. As such, sustainability, the responsible use of natural resources and the relationship between the building and its surroundings, formed the starting point design.

The long relationship between the Finnish society and timber, combined with a desire for innovation, led to a design based around a load bearing cross-laminated timber structure; the first public building of its type. At the same time, the building learns directly from its environment and context, but projects a vision of national and international significance. All the wooden finishes of Haltia were chosen for both their environmental friendliness and aesthetic qualities; focusing on sustainability, practicality and user experience. To enhance the biological durability and fire safety, the exterior spruce cladding was silica-impregnated and heat-treated. The treatment does not harm the environment in any way and is completely recyclable. Wax treated CLT timber elements make suitable interior walls with no need for wall coverings.

The centre orientates itself relative to its environment, using its context to contribute to energy saving; the northern façade sits within a rock – the walls of which create the auditorium - whilst the southern terrace protects wide glass surfaces which give visitors a direct relationship with the natural surroundings. The overall shape of the building has also been designed for its optimal energy usage. It is said that the building sits in its place like a bird seeking shelter in a pocket of snow.

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Location Espoo, Finland

Year 2013

Area 3500 m2

Programme Nature school, exhibition spaces, education facilities, auditorium and nature lookout

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Maritime Centre Vellamo, Kotka, Finland Vellamo, the Maritime Centre in Kotka, stands in the post industrial port as a monument to, and a reminder of, the city’s long maritime history. Within the centre are two museums, the Maritime Museum of Finland and the Museum of Kymenlaakso – the Finnish region to which Kotka belongs. The building also houses a museum shop, restaurant, the local library, teaching rooms as well as a 250 seat auditorium.

Kotka has, since its formation, had an intense relationship with the water. Its strategic position on the Baltic Sea meant that it became a booming hub for trade and the military, helped by the Kymijoki river which also runs through the city. But, as with many European cities, globalisation and the move to deeper ports resulted in the decline of the city’s industry. And, for years, the once booming ports remained dilapidated and quiet.

However, in 2008, Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects completed Vellamo, named after the Finnish mythological goddess of water, lakes and the seas. The massive structure brings back the sense of oceanic monumentality, which once the huge ships would have sailed in with them. The industrial scale of the harbour, and the sheer power that carried with it, is returned; and still with the original ship cranes standing guard.

The building rises up out of the ground, its roof a path, bringing visitors higher up the structure ending in massive concrete and steel wave. Practically speaking, this creates a sheltered public and performance space. Symbolically speaking, even from across the harbour, the building as a whole immediately reminds one of the oceans. The façade, a three-dimensional mix of fritted glass and steel panels, resembles the shimmering surface of the sea.

And, when a slight wind roughens the water in the harbour, the building blends seamlessly into its surroundings.

Inside, visitors are greeted by warm oak lining the floors and walls – a welcome retreat from what can be a harsh Finnish coastal climate. And yet, the material palette combined with the smooth curvature of many of the surfaces still evoke ideas of maritime construction, boats, Finnish craft and the history of the site. Lahdelma & Mahlamäki’s attention to detail inside returns the building back to a human scale and allows the visitors to approach the exhibits in a much more personal way than with the industrial scale of its surroundings outside.

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Location Kotka, Finland

Year 2008

Area 15,000 m2

Programme Maritime Museum of Finland, Museum of Kymenlaakso, shop, restaurant, library, teaching rooms and a 250 seat auditorium

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Selected Education Projects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

'Bicentennial Schools' Rebuilding Project, Peru In 2021, Peru celebrated the bicentennial of the country's independence by launching a vast development project with rebuilding of 75 public schools and overall improvement of the education system as its aims. The Finnish-British consortium, with Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects as one of its members, won the international competition to carry out the multi-year project in Peru, in close cooperation with local experts and industries.

The foundation of the Bicentennial Schools project was laid already prior to the international competition as a national architectural competition was organized in Peru to find the best solution for the schools based on local knowledge. What the Finnish-British consortium brings to the project is, on the one hand, British know-how in project

management and engineering and, on the other, Finnish expertise in education and architectural design. From November 2021 onwards, the consortium and Peruvian experts have worked together in refining the locally-made development plans and finding suitable local contractors through a tender process. Constucting the first new schools is set to begin in June 2023 and the goal is to complete all schools during 2024.

As an experienced school design office, LMA's role in the project is to contribute to refining the module construction system, which will be used to realise the new schools. LMA is also advising both the contractors in making their own plans and client, the Peruvian administration, in supervising the contractor plans. In addition, knowledge transfer to the client and local contractors based is a crucial

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Upper Secondary School of Languages, Helsinki, Finland Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects (LMA) are designing the Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages. The communal building includes, for example, flexible spaces for studying, a multi-purpose hall, a green rooftop yard and public spaces open to citizens. In total, the gross area of the building is 8,500 m². The School will be erected on a small and demanding site next to a metro station and the Myllypuro campus of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, also designed by LMA and completed last year.

The Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages is a public building with strong identity but considerate of its surroundings.

It adapts to its environment, not rising above the apartment buildings in the vicinity and, in terms of facades, follows the example of the Metropolia campus, which is a dominant landmark in Myllypuro area. The school strives to save long views from the neighboring apartment buildings and, on the other hand, offer new, interesting views thanks to its rooftop yards. The facades of the building are made of perforated aluminum, graphic concrete, wood and glass. Inside, wood and other natural materials create comfortable spaces that are pleasant to the touch, eye and ear.

For LMA, the goal was to create a design that promotes communality and cosmopolitan ethos among students, serves the residents of the surrounding area and creates living urban space by making school activities visible to the outside. In addition to social studying spaces and classrooms, the building offers students, for instance, laboratories and facilities for creative endeavors. Various elements placed around the building encourage students to move and exercise, and the rooftop yard provides a green space for studying and relaxation. So-called Plaza of Cultures and a cafeteria, situated on the ground floor, are meeting places and suitable for events. The activities on the ground floor can be seen from the outside through glass walls and can also take place on the small public square in front of the building. The two lowest floors of the building are in public use, allowing citizens to make use of, for example, educational kitchens and art and craft spaces.

The design includes numerous environmentally friendly solutions, such as the use of recyclable materials and utilizing solar panels to meet part of the building’s energy needs. As a result, the building causes 40% less CO2 emissions during its lifecycle compared to a conventional building.

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Location Helsinki, Finland

Year Ongoing

Area 8,500 m2

Programme Flexible spaces for studying, a multi-purpose hall, a green rooftop yard, public spaces open to citizens

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Matinkylä Upper Secondary School, Espoo, Finland Lyhty, the Finnish word for lantern, is Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects’ winning proposal for Matinkylä Upper Secondary School in Espoo, Finland. In addition to learning environments, the building includes a sports hall and a roof yard. The premises are reserved not only for the Upper Secondary School but also for other uses by citizens. Matinkylä Upper Secondary School is located next to the metro station, in the southern part of Tynnyripuisto Park. Together with a swimming hall and sports fields currently under construction, it will create a vast citizen-serving public space.

Light plays a central role in the competition proposal. The facades of the building are largely made of glass, inviting in an abundance of light and opening the building to its surroundings. In addition to the glass facades, sunlight is obtained through the roof yard and through all floors all the way to the dining hall in the heart of the building. Opal glass surfaces separate the sports hall and learning spaces, but at the same time the light filtered through

the glass connects the spaces to each other. On the outside, the pale building resembles, as its name implies, a lantern that illuminates its surroundings.

The learning environments consist of both classrooms and more open, free learning environments that encourage students to discuss and interact in an informal way. In the past, this type of spaces have been used in Finnish primary school buildings, which makes Matinkylä Upper Secondary School a pioneering project among education buildings. In addition, the roof yard, where students can study outdoors, brings a refreshing addition to learning environments.

The basic design and construction of the building, which is reflected in the compact and energy-efficient form of the building, adhere to the principles of sustainable development. In the proposal, wood is an essential material, as both the frame of the building and much of the interiors are made of wood.

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Location Espoo, Finland

Year Ongoing

Area 11,350 m2

Programme Upper secondary school, sports hall, facilities for citizens, roof yard

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Heinola Upper Secondary School, Finland The Heinola Upper Secondary School is a multi-purpose educational building designed by Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects.

It is located in the Seminaari area, which is of great cultural and historical value and is partly protected, and where teacher training started as early as 1899. T he Heinola Upper Secondary School is a public building in a broader sense, as it also houses other cultural facilities important for a small town, such as a large auditorium and a sports hall. Its architectural design is based on the idea of the building as a warm campfire circle, which is reflected in the layout of the building's spaces around the central lobby. T he building emphasises high-quality, warm materials such as brick and wood, while high glass walls on the facades open up the interior of the School to a park-like setting. As a learning environment, T he Heinola Upper Secondary School offers both a peaceful working environment and opportunities for social learning. Instead of large open spaces, the emphasis is on adaptable spaces that can be combined as required.

Heinola is a picturesque small town some 140 kilometres from Helsinki. The town has played an important role in the history of Finnish education, as an institution for the training of teachers was founded in Heinola as early as 1899. In 2017, the City of Heinola organised an architectural competition for the area to design a new upper secondary school to replace the demolished school building, and the proposal by Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects was selected as the winner of the competition.

The Upper Secondary School is a major project for the town and a landmark building that stands out clearly from other school projects in Heinola at the same time. It is a public building in a broader sense than just a school, as it houses a number of activities important to the community in the centre of the town. These include youth service facilities, a large auditorium and a sports

hall, which will extend the use of the School for performing arts, events, social interaction and sports.

The building’s multifaceted massing is not limited to a rectangular design language, but is inspired by the free arrangement of the building and the idea of a campfire circle around the central lobby. The facades of the building are divided horizontally into two parts, with brick pilasters and high glass surfaces alternating on the two lower floors, while the top floor is clad in perforated metal. This twofold look is inspired by the old educational buildings in the area, with a plastered brick ground floor and a wooden second floor. The brick pilasters and the lace-like nature of the perforated metal give the facades depth and ever-changing shadows.

The functional solution for the Heinola Upper Secondary School is simple and easy to understand. The architectural concept was inspired by the shape of the site and is based on the idea of the building as a warm campfire circle. In practice, this is reflected, for example, in the layout of the spaces around the central lobby. The lobby dominates the spatial ensemble while emphasising the coherence of all parts of the building. From the users' point of view, the lobby creates a meeting point with access to all parts of the building.

The school facilities are spread over three floors, which are divided into different use zones. Nearest to the busy central lobby are spaces for informal study and lounging, while further out are quieter spaces for more focused learning. The different types of educational spaces form clusters of cellular units, each with a common learning area at its centre. Instead of large open spaces, the emphasis is on spaces of different shapes and sizes, which can be combined as required. Glass walls between classrooms and lobbies contribute to a sense of cohesion within the school.

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Location Heinola, Finland

Year 2021

Area 5,200 m2

Programme Upper secondary school, sports hall, auditorium, youth service facilities, recreational courtyard

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Kastelli School and Community Centre, Oulu, Finland The Finnish education system is repeatedly highlighted as being world-leading and Kastelli School and Community Centre has frequently been the face for this reputation. The Finnish realise how integration and shared learning is key to a successful education. One of the reasons for Kastelli’s success is how the spaces throughout the centre allow children of all age ranges to congregate in the various open corridors or free-form lounge spaces and lobbies – whether whilst working or socialising.

In true but exemplary Finnish tradition, the building boasts impressive sustainability and technical records. The project attained a LEED for Schools Gold rating as well as the RIL (Finnish Association of Civil Engineers) Prize 2014 and was shortlisted for the MIPIM Award for “Best Innovative Green Building”.

Due to its complexity the project was scheduled as a two-phase design competition. Despite this, Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects succeeded in creating a design which integrated what could have been a massive public building, comfortably into the modest sized village. The scale of such a project was also brought back to that of the primary users, children. Playful use of colours and shapes played an important role in the aesthetics of the design. The schoolyards contain a landscaped environment with large yards, small niches, noise protection from the street and a playful environment for children of all ages to enjoy.

The educational environment was designed in close collaboration with pedagogy experts, something which is recurring in

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki’s designs and consistent with the Finnish approach to education; both legally and socially. Their innovation comes from research-heavy collaborations with specialists.

Programmatically and technically the building not only caters for the school, but also for the local and national communities. The project includes a comprehensive school, an upper secondary school and a library. Also within the building are educational facilities for adults and a youth centre. A series of sports halls cater for various athletic clubs and teams. The largest sports hall has 800 seats and amongst other things plays host to matches for the national volleyball league.

Throughout Lahdelma & Mahlamäki’s educational projects an emphasis has been put on specialised facilities based around open social and work spaces, allowing for both individual and shared research. This has been extensively shown in projects such as Exactum and Physicum - buildings designed for the Department of Physical Sciences of Helsinki University - which base research facilities, subject teaching rooms, laboratories and the like, around social spaces in which students from various subjects can collide in a shared learning experience. Kastelli takes this idea and brings the scale down for the younger generation. More traditional classrooms are situated around open corridors in which small pockets provide areas for cross-curricular learning. Kastelli puts its emphasis on teaching the younger generation’s life and social skills through constructing a physical and social landscape to help integration across subjects and age groups.

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Location Oulu, Finland

Year 2014

Area 12,300 m2

Programme Comprehensive school, upper secondary school, adult education, youth centre and sports halls

Client City of Oulu

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Myllypuro Campus for Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, Finland The Myllypuro campus, located in Helsinki, Finland and designed for Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, is a polytechnic campus which looks to serve 6,000 students and 500 staff through a range of teaching, learning and research facilities. The combination of highly-specialized research spaces and open social spaces creates an environment where students can foster an intense understanding of their subject, whilst having frequent exposure to the work of so many more of their peers.

The aim of the campus was to create an inspiring and open network of learning. The design bases itself on the Finnish approach to education which realizes the importance of shared learning across disciplines through social study spaces; whilst allowing for focused learning of individual practices in isolated environments.

The campus is made of four main blocks, joined by huge atria.

While keeping it sheltered from the harsh Finnish climate, the separation of the units gives an almost urban atmosphere, breaking away from the traditional ‘school’ feeling and promoting informal, out-of-office-hours type interactions.

Catering for the high volume of users, underneath the campus is a service yard and parking hall. The ground floors are kept primarily for shared uses. Within the main volumes are a whole host of facilities, including two large auditoriums, restaurants and cafés, two sports halls, a therapy pool, clinical training and simulation facilities for social services and healthcare, construction and building services laboratories and workshops, a library and Metropolia’s own commercial premises. On top of this, a significant amount of space is dedicated to teacher’s offices, designed according to the activity-based office concept – bringing a more practical and hands-on approach to education which looks to trickle down into the teaching environment.

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Location Helsinki, Finland

Year 2019

Area 56,000 m2

Programme Educational and state-of-the-art research facilities, library services and commercial premises

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

ICT House, Turku, Finland ICT House brings together the buildings of the Turku Science Park, Kupittaa, to form a whole, both in a townscape sense and functionally. ICT House is the common computer teaching facility of the Turku Centre for Computer Science (TUCS) - a joint faculty of the University of Turku, Åbo Academy University and Turku School of Economics – and Turku University of Applied Sciences. With the construction of ICT House, a central urban square linking together the existing buildings was also created. Raised above the maintenance and car traffic level, the square creates a pleasant pedestrian connection between the buildings.

The main entrance to ICT House, which also functions as the gateway to the whole Science Park, is situated on the square that has been cut into the street milieu and which is visible from afar on the northern approach to the area. The functional solution to the building is based on the idea of "together separate - separate together".

The large building, which is intended for many different user groups, has been spatially subdivided into comprehensible units in a suitable scale in regards to townscape. Attention has been paid in the exterior to the demands of the environment and location by choosing light-coloured aluminium as well as painted

metal cassettes that reproduce the spectrum of tones of redbrick.

The hierarchical importance of the interiors has been emphasised by giving the most central spaces more height and materials that differ from elsewhere in the building. The interiors were given a lighter appearance and increased recognizability through the choice of different coloured surfaces selected at random.

The teaching and seminar spaces are linked by a three-storeyhigh internal street which acts as a lobby along the whole length of the building, terminating in glazed façade. The classrooms and seminar rooms are situated on the three lower floors, and the research rooms and offices are situated on the three top floors.

The offices are situated along a central corridor, and the twostorey-high vestibule and recess facilities add character to the office units.

The logical structural system for the building consists of a reinforced concrete frame, prefabricated concrete pillars and hollow core slab floors, the pillar frame system enabling easy adaptability of the spaces. The most important facade materials are the aluminium gratings, painted metal cassettes and marine aluminium sheeting.

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Location Turku, Finland

Year 2006

Area 34,000 m2

Programme Education campus, university facilities and an upper secondary school

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Exactum, University of Helsinki, Finland

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Location Helsinki, Finland

Year 2004

Area 16,500 m2

Programme Education facilities, research space, laboratories

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Physicum, University of Helsinki, Finland

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Location Helsinki, Finland

Year 2001

Area 20,500 m2

Programme University facilities, laboratories, research facilities

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Festia, Tampere University of Technology, Finland

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Location Tampere, Finland

Year 1995

Area 11,000 m2

Programme University facilities

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Primary School, Joensuu, Finland The Joensuu Elementary School has at its core the idea of spatial clarity. In practice this translates through a series of primary elements in the building, which uses the fact that there is no one side of the school as a starting point.

Four wings, each which hold the standard educational functions come off of a large central, light-filled atrium. This central space acts as the main social hub for all students, who can come together after their lessons in each of the wings. The space has areas to play and sit on various levels, one such area which hovers one floor up in the middle of the atrium.

In the wings this idea is taken one step further. The functional spaces, whether they are classrooms or teaching offices, this time situate themselves around smaller lobbies. In this way the students are given a smaller, somewhat more private space to work, learn or just hang-out away from the larger school co-

hort. Educationally this gives the option for smaller cross-subject learning groups; socially it lets smaller – perhaps more introvert – groups of friends form.

These separate wings keep their visual and physical connection to the main atrium; walkways on all levels ensure this. And yet, at the same time each keeps a certain separation through its use of colour to create individual identities for the spaces.

This injection of colour into the school also serves another purpose. Finland has notoriously harsh winters and Joensuu is no exception to this. The low light, cold and lack of colour in the natural environment can often have adverse effects on locals, with the young being particularly susceptible. The bold colours of Joensuu Elementary School try to counteract this, working in tandem with other methods such as using high-quality materials and optimising the use of natural light in the building.

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Location Joensuu, Finland

Year 2006

Area 6,262 m2

Programme Primary school

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Primary School, Jyväskylä, Finland

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Location Jyväskylä, Finland

Year 2002

Area 6,100 m2

Programme Primary school

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Soininen Primary School, Helsinki, Finland

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Location Helsinki, Finland

Year 1997

Area 3,800 m2

Programme Primary school

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

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