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Article from issue 1/1999 »Brick and Blockwork Walls«

Scientific Institute in Kirkkonummi, Finland

Drafts
Cross-section 1:250
Ground/Second floor plan 1:800
Horizontal section through corner 1:20
Horizontal section through facade/enrance 1:20
Section through facade 1:20
Site plan 1:2500
Vertical section through facade/Section aa with window opening 1:20
West elevation 1:500

The building nestles like a white sundeck against the wooded slope of the site. At the angle between the two wings is the central entrance hall, which links the three storeys of the structure. The white, rendered volumes of the building stepped down the slope are articulated with large areas of steel-framed glazing. The non-structural walls are in lightweight concrete blockwork with integrated thermal insulation. The same blocks were also used as an outer skin to the load-bearing reinforced concrete walls. The office spaces along the north face provide shaded computer workplaces and command a fine view of the forested slopes. The highly insulated blue-grey timber-element façade allows great flexibility in the layout of office partitions.