Pioneer in construction – Finland's first service and warehouse building from reused materials to be completed

Construction and buildings account for approximately one third of Finland's greenhouse gas emissions. Because of this, the City of Helsinki is constantly looking for ways to reduce the carbon footprint of its own construction efforts. One of its projects representing a new approach to construction is the service and warehouse building in Mustikkamaa, which has been made as fully as possible out of reused building materials.

Experience gained to be applied to future projects

The construction of the building has provided experience and lessons about what the market for recycled building materials is like, what kinds of service providers there are in this field and what kinds of recycled materials are available, for example.

“The importance of this pilot project cannot be overstated. The entire project organisation has gained a lot of vital information and learned lessons about what construction using reused materials means in practice. The use of reused materials warrants special considerations in a project, as it affects planning, procurement, the approval of materials and the service life of the building, among other things. The lessons and information learned provide a good basis for future projects,” says Project Director Jean Toljander from the City of Helsinki's Urban Environment Division, in charge of the implementation phase of the project.

Windows from Helsinki, facades from Espoo and Kirkkonummi

The windows of the 470-square-metre building are from the Postitalo building (former main Post office) in Helsinki, while its facade sheets are from Tapiola in Espoo, its facade panels are from Kirkkonummi and its frame structures are from Tampere. In addition to the load-bearing frame, windows and facade cladding, other reused materials in the building include the partitions in the staff facilities and the building’s water fixtures and fixed furnishings.

“This depot is a step towards a fundamental change in the use of reused building materials. I believe we can construct other buildings using the same model,” says Project Director Mari Koskinen from the Urban Environment Division, who was in charge of the planning phase of the project.

Implemented in collaboration with Aalto University

The building was designed in collaboration with Aalto University and designed by siblings Johanna and Markus Saarela. The Saarelas’ plan won the design contest for students organised at the beginning of the project. The competition was organized by Helsinki’s Circular Economy Cluster Programme in cooperation with Aalto University.

The Saarelas have also participated in the implementation phase of the warehouse project. In addition to this, the building is also the topic of two doctoral theses currently being prepared at Aalto University. Research on the warehouse continues, as the reused materials and their condition will be monitored for several years following the commissioning of the building.

The patina of time gives the material character

Reused materials create a unique aesthetic.

“The fact that circularity is visible in both the indoor facilities and outdoor architecture of the building adds a temporal dimension to it that cannot be achieved with new materials. For example, the decades-old roofing bricks feel just right between the surrounding grey rocks. The patina on the warehouse hall’s glued laminated timber and plywood also shows the potential of old material in future architecture,” says Assistant Professor Antti Lehto from the Department of Architecture at Aalto University.

In addition to the City of Helsinki Urban Environment Division, Aalto University and Stara, which was responsible for the construction work, another party that has played an important role in the project is Spolia Design Oy, whose circular economy consultant surveyed the range of used building materials available throughout Finland.

The Mustikkamaa warehouse will be used by the City of Helsinki Culture and Leisure Division to maintain the sports, exercise and outdoor recreation services of Mustikkamaa and its neighbouring areas. As such, the building includes machinery storage and maintenance facilities, warehouse facilities, a waste collection point and staff facilities.