{"id":31536,"date":"2022-05-25T10:48:52","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T07:48:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/?post_type=showroom_cpt&p=31536"},"modified":"2026-03-10T15:05:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T13:05:44","slug":"residents-queuing-for-finlands-first-log-based-apartment-building-hirsihovi-in-pudasjarvi","status":"publish","type":"showroom_cpt","link":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/projects\/residents-queuing-for-finlands-first-log-based-apartment-building-hirsihovi-in-pudasjarvi\/","title":{"rendered":"Residents queuing for Finland\u2019s first log-based apartment building, Hirsihovi in Pudasj\u00e4rvi"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Residents queuing for Finland\u2019s first log-based apartment building, Hirsihovi in Pudasj\u00e4rvi<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tCustomer<\/em>\t\t\t\t\t

Pudasj\u00e4rven Vuokratalot Oy<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tCommission<\/em>\t\t\t\t\t

Structural engineering, principal design and executive building design<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tScope<\/em>\t\t\t\t\t

3,700 m\u00b2 gross, 53 apartments and 5 business premises<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

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Residents queuing for Finland\u2019s first log-based apartment building, Hirsihovi in Pudasj\u00e4rvi<\/h1>\n

The autumn of 2021 marked the completion of Finland\u2019s first two log-based apartment buildings in Pudasj\u00e4rvi, the carbon footprint of which is small. The log material can be seen in the buildings\u2019 facades and well-lit apartments, and the design of the hybrid buildings also utilises concrete elements in a smart way. Residents are particularly appreciative of the quietness of the rental apartments, and demand for these apartments has been high.<\/p>\n

Pudasj\u00e4rvi is Finland\u2019s log capital, favouring Finnish logs in construction projects. In the autumn of 2021, two four-storey hybrid buildings featuring Finnish wood to complement the load-bearing concrete structures were completed in the city centre. The objective was to develop a modern log-based apartment building solution that would be easy to replicate in other locations.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo far, logs have been used in Pudasj\u00e4rvi to build schools and hotels, which can also be seen as log-based works of art. However, utilising wood construction in the battle against climate change also requires a bulk product that can easily be brought to the market on a larger scale,\u201d comments Managing Director Jouko V\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4nen<\/strong> from Pudasj\u00e4rven Vuokratalot Oy.<\/p>\n

The use of log and concrete structures was given thought at Hirsihovi through the strengths of both. V\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4nen says that a wooden intermediate floor can be a risky solution in terms of both sound insulation and water damage. \u201cEasy maintenance also affects the carbon footprint of the building, so we chose to use concrete hollow-core slabs for the intermediate floors,\u201d he explains. The wet areas and the walls between apartments were also made from concrete. \u201cHowever, the exterior walls are where logs show their strengths.\u201d<\/p>\n

Making innovative hybrid structures work<\/h4>\n

Hirsihovi is one of Finland\u2019s first multi-storey log buildings, so the entire project group had many new challenges to overcome. \u201cOur job was to reconcile concrete and log structures and production-related boundary conditions so that the end result would be sensible and cost-efficient,\u201d says Sweco\u2019s structural engineering specialist Tuomas Jaakkola<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

One new solution was to connect the intermediate floors to the exterior log wall so tightly that the end result meets fire protection and sound insulation requirements. Jouko V\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4nen says that the construction supervisor was expecting major additional expenses throughout the entire project. \u201cThey never came, though, as we were able to secure fire safety without a sprinkler system and so forth.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sound insulation of the building has also generated positive feedback. \u201cThe sound insulation was given a good score in impartial measurements, and disabled residents with high sensitivity to sound have also applauded the quietness of the apartments,\u201d V\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4nen says. \u201cThe fine end result is indicative of open design and careful construction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Logs are suited for urban construction<\/h4>\n

The architectural design of Hirsihovi was created by Linja Arkkitehdit, currently part of Sweco. The original plan was to have three buildings on the property, but the scheme was ultimately changed into two larger buildings. This way, the buildings frame the street in a natural way and support the cityscape of the Pudasj\u00e4rvi city centre. The apartments were designed to be relatively small in order to make them well suited for seniors moving to the city centre from a detached house. 15 of the rental apartments are also designated as Keva apartments for special groups.<\/p>\n

The unsettling SmartLog\u2122 logs developed by Kontiotuote made it easier to combine log structures with concrete elements. The SmartLog\u2122 material also supported the architects\u2019 vision of a classically simple and timeless visual appearance. \u201cThe low-key design language of modern logs is well suited for urban apartment building construction,\u201d comments Principal Designer Jaakko Kallio-Koski<\/strong> from the Finnish Association of Architects SAFA. \u201cFor example, Hirsihovi does not have any cross corners typically found in conventional log buildings.\u201d<\/p>\n

The people of Pudasj\u00e4rvi are happy with how Hirsihovi has elevated the cityscape and bumped up the reputation of the region. Residents have also been enjoying the apartments, which feature log structures inside as well, in the facade and partition walls. \u201cThe apartments have proven so popular that there is a long queue for them. We need another pair of similar buildings in the city centre!\u201d V\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4nen comments.<\/p>\n

The cooperation between Pudasj\u00e4rven Vuokratalot, Kontiotuote and Sweco will next continue with a project to build 20 log-based terraced houses in Sy\u00f6te. \u201cOur objective is to provide seasonal workers with high-quality but reasonably priced apartments,\u201d V\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4nen says. The partners are already familiar with each other, so they already know that things will work. \u201cIt\u2019s great to work in such a good atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The autumn of 2021 marked the completion of Finland\u2019s first two log-based apartment buildings in Pudasj\u00e4rvi, the carbon footprint of which is small. The log material can be seen in the buildings\u2019 facades and well-lit apartments, and the design of the hybrid buildings also utilises concrete elements in a smart way. Residents are particularly appreciative of the quietness of the rental apartments, and demand for these apartments has been high.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":32108,"template":"","showroom_cats":[190,147,163,149,167,148],"showroom_expertise":[],"showroom_partners":[],"showroom_location":[],"showroom_client":[],"class_list":["post-31536","showroom_cpt","type-showroom_cpt","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","showroom_cats-structural-engineering","showroom_cats-sustainability","showroom_cats-buildings-and-urban-areas","showroom_cats-building-design","showroom_cats-residential","showroom_cats-architecture"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/showroom_cpt\/31536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/showroom_cpt"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/showroom_cpt"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"showroom_cats","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/showroom_cats?post=31536"},{"taxonomy":"showroom_expertise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/showroom_expertise?post=31536"},{"taxonomy":"showroom_partners","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/showroom_partners?post=31536"},{"taxonomy":"showroom_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/showroom_location?post=31536"},{"taxonomy":"showroom_client","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/showroom_client?post=31536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}