Wood in Construction and Architecture

Wood has a strong tradition in Finnish culture and has always been one of Finland's major building materials. Aesthetically, structurally and environmentally, wood will remain one of the most important construction materials for a long time to come. Wood works in accordance with nature and continuously inspires new directions in the design and construction of timber buildings. Excellent wood architecture, constant research and extensive experience with an understanding of timber construction make Finland one of the world’s major wood architecture countries.

In the studio “Wood in Construction and Architecture”, students will design and build a wooden structure, and will study Finnish timber and the use of timber in construction and architecture on a practical level. The aim of the course is to acquaint students with Finnish timber from an aesthetical point of view, to expose them to a technical approach and to show them the relationship between architecture and construction material. The course is intended for students of architecture, building technology, wood technology and design.

The course takes the form of a practical workshop. Students study the architectural and technical properties of wood and, working in small groups, build a wooden structure that serves the purpose of learning by doing. The course also includes an excursion during which students will have an opportunity to study the Finnish wood architecture. Visiting lecturers will also introduce students to diverse viewpoints on the use of wood that emphasise the innovative architectural, artistic and perhaps also the economic aspects of wood as a building material.

The course will be led by architects Pekka Heikkinen and Philip Tidwell, who teach wood construction in the Department of Architecture at the Aalto University School of Science and Technology. They will be joined by civil engineer Hannu Hirsi, an expert on practical issues dealing with timber structures.

Prior to the beginning of the course, students will analyse the use of wood in architecture and construction in their home countries. This analysis will be complemented by an analysis of traditional and contemporary wood architecture. These analyses must be completed and submitted two weeks before the course begins.

The course will be held in the well-equipped Wood Workshop of the Department of Architecture in Otaniemi. After completion of the course, the project structures will be exhibited at the Aalto University School of Science and Technology in Otaniemi.

Please direct any questions concerning the content of this course to the Coordinator, Mr. Pekka Heikkinen, pekka.heikkinen(at)tkk.fi. Any questions concerning the general arrangements (accommodation, scholarship, etc.) should be addressed to the Summer School's office at summer-school@helsinki.fi