Wood spruces up Scandinavian cities

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Spectacular forms in wood - CNN.comvar cnnCurrTime=new Date(1355943534000),cnnCurrHour=13,cnnCurrMin=58,cnnCurrDay="Wed",cnnIsIntl=true,clickID=212106,cnn_cvpAdpre="edition.",cnnCVPAdSectionT1="edition.cnn.com_specialreports_ecosolutions_t1",cnnCVPAdSectionInPage="edition.cnn.com_specialreports_ecosolutions_inpage",cnnShareUrl="%2F2012%2F12%2F18%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Fwooden-architecture%2Findex.html",cnnShareTitle="Spectacular%20forms%20in%20wood",cnnShareDesc="",cnnFirstPub=new Date('Tuesday Dec 18 07:17:04 EST 2012'),cnnSectionName="world",cnnSubSectionName="wrd : europe",cnnPageType="Story",cnnBrandingValue="intl.eco_solutions";cnnPartnerValue="/intl/grand/tour";cnnOmniBranding="Eco Solutions",cnnAuthor="Marianna Wahlsten, Editor of www.grandtourmagazine.com, and Tuomas Uusheimo",disqus_category_id=207582,disqus_identifier="/2012/12/18/world/europe/wooden-architecture/index.html",disqus_title="Spectacular forms in wood",cnn_edtnswtchver="edition",cnnIsStoryPage=true,cnn_metadata = {};cnn_metadata = {section: ["world","wrd : europe"],friendly_name: "Spectacular forms in wood",template_type: "content",template_type_content: "gallery",business: {cnn: {page: {author: "Marianna Wahlsten, Editor of www.grandtourmagazine.com, and Tuomas Uusheimo",broadcast_franchise: "",video_embed_count: "0",publish_date: "2012/12/18",photo_gallery: "Scandinavia's spectacular forms in wood"},video: {video_player: ""}}},user: {authenticated: "",segment: {age: "",zip: "",gender: ""}}};if (typeof(cnnOmniPartner) !== "undefined") {if (cnn_metadata.template_type_content === "") {cnn_metadata.template_type_content = "partner";}}var photo_gallery = "Scandinavia's spectacular forms in wood";if(typeof CNN==='undefined'){var CNN=Class.create();}CNN.expandableMap=[''];function _loginOptions(){};var disqus_url=(typeof disqus_identifier!=='undefined') ? 'http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/18/world/europe/wooden-architecture/index.html' : 'http://www.cnn.com'+location.pathname;cnnad_newTileIDGroup(['607x95_adlinks','336x280_adlinks']); EDITION:  INTERNATIONAL U.S. MEXICO ARABIC TV:   CNNi CNN en Espa?ol Set edition preference Sign up Log in Home Video World U.S. Africa Asia Europe Latin America Middle East Business World Sport Entertainment Tech Travel iReport /* STORY PAGE SPECIFIC CSS */.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr { background:#fff url('http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/mosaic/bg_speccov_hdr.gif') 0px 0px repeat-x; }.cnn_stryspcvh1 { position:relative; height:74px;background:transparent url('http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/ssi/story/3.0/banner/intl.eco_solutions.inc/eco.solutions.jpg') 50% 0px no-repeat;overflow:hidden; }.cnn_stryspcvh2 { font:bold 10px/12px arial;color:#666;padding:0 0 2px 0; }.cnn_stryspcvh3 { font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight:bold; font-size:18px; line-height:21px; }.cnn_stryspcvh4 { position:absolute; z-index:1000; float:left;margin:30px 0 0 10px;display:inline; }.cnn_stryspcvh5 { float:right;margin:30px 10px 0 0;display:inline;text-align:right; }.cnn_stryspcvh20 { padding:0 0 2px 0; }.cnn_stryspccvrgebot { height:3px; background:#e6e6e6; }.cnn_stryspccvh6 { width:100%; height:74px; text-align:center; left:0; }.cnn_stryspccvh6 a { display:block; margin:0 auto; width:335px; height:74px; }cnnad_createAd("472946","http://ads.cnn.com/html.ng/site=cnn_international&cnn_intl_pagetype=specials&cnn_intl_position=88x31_spon_ecosolutions&cnn_intl_rollup=special_reports&cnn_intl_section=eco_solutions&page.allowcompete=no¶ms.styles=fs","31","88");cnnad_registerSpace(472946,88,31);Part of complete coverage onEco SolutionsPrintEmailMore sharingSpectacular forms in woodBy Marianna Wahlsten, Editor of www.grandtourmagazine.com, and Tuomas UusheimoDecember 19, 2012 -- Updated 1508 GMT (2308 HKT)if (typeof cnnArticleGallery=="undefined"){var cnnArticleGallery={};if(typeof cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList=="undefined"){cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList=[];}}var expGalleryPT00=new ArticleExpandableGallery();expGalleryPT00.setImageCount(6);expGalleryPT00.setAdsRefreshCount(3);//cnn_adbptrackpgalimg("Kamppi Chapel of Silence, Helsinki", 1);.cnn_html_slideshow_metadata > .cnn_html_media_utility::before{color:red;content:'>>';font-size:9px;line-height:12px;padding-right:1px}.cnnstrylccimg640{margin:0 27px 14px 0}.captionText{filter:alpha(opacity=100);opacity:1}.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:visited,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:link,.captionText a,.captionText a:visited,.captiontext a:link{color:#004276;outline:medium none}.cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{margin:0 auto;padding-right:68px;width:270px}Situated between two big shopping malls in the heart of Helsinki, the Kamppi Chapel of Silence, designed by K2S Architects, surprises by its minimalist form.
© Tuomas UusheimocnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":true,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":1,"title":"Kamppi Chapel of Silence, Helsinki"}Inside the Kamppi Chapel, the curving inner wall is made out of alder planks into a closed space with light falling from above.

© Tuomas UusheimocnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":2,"title":""}Built to host some of the main events of the World Design Capital year, the Summer Pavilion is a temporary structure made entirely out of Finnish timber.

© Tuomas UusheimocnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":3,"title":"Summer Pavilion, Helsinki"}A lattice timber canopy gives a feeling of lightness to the pavilion. The structure will be recycled for a new architectural project next year.

© Tuomas UusheimocnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":4,"title":""}The Kilden Theatre overlooks the harbour of Kristiansand in Norway. Its bold sculptural ceiling was designed using techniques from traditional boat construction.

© Tuomas UusheimocnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":5,"title":"Kilden Theatre, Kristiansand, Norway"}The elegant curve of the Kilden Theatre ceiling is a real showpiece of craftsmanship in wood, made out of local oak planks. All images © Tuomas UusheimocnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":6,"title":""}HIDE CAPTIONKamppi Chapel of Silence, HelsinkiSummer Pavilion, HelsinkiKilden Theatre, Kristiansand, Norway<<<123456>>>Event.observe(window,'load',function(){if(typeof(cnn_adbptrackpgalimg) == 'function' && typeof(cnnArticleGallery) != 'undefined'){cnn_adbptrackpgalimg(cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[0].image,"Scandinavia's spectacular forms in wood");}});STORY HIGHLIGHTSWooden structures a central theme during World Design Capital year in Helsinki Buildings like the Kamppi Chapel in Helsinki an example of exquisite timber craftsmanship Wood and wooden buildings a part of Nordic countries architectural heritage Editor's note: This piece is taken from Grand Tour magazine, a new travel magazine produced by an international team with a passion for architecture.

(CNN) -- Wood as a building material is having a real comeback in contemporary Scandinavian design. Bent into minimalistic circular structures and sculptural forms, it is used with surprising results thanks to engineering and technical innovations. Offering a wealth of aesthetic possibilities, timber is now being hailed as the concrete of 21st Century.

Innovative architectural forms in wood was one of the central themes emerging during the World Design Capital year in Helsinki. As the planet is threatened by an ecological crisis, showcasing and promoting new eco-friendly materials was a valuable objective in the WDC program -- a topic also extended to the Finnish Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale.

As exhibition designer Esa Vesmanen points out: "The young generation of architects have taken up wood with an innovative approach, thinking about all its possibilities from a new perspective."

"As a living material, wood is both challenging and inspiring
Pyry-Pekka KantonenIn Helsinki, at the Aalto University architecture school, a studio in timber design offers students the possibility for a particular focus. A Summer Pavilion for the World Design Capital events was created by a team of students from an initial concept designed by Pyry-Pekka Kantonen.

"As a living material, wood is both challenging and inspiring," Kantonen says. The fact that wood is the most eco-friendly building material is an obvious reason for its use, but as Kantonen explains its aesthetic qualities are being rediscovered and appreciated again.

In public buildings, such as the Kilden Theater and Concert Hall in Kristiansand in Norway wooden surfaces have been cleverly used for psychological effects.

Juha Gronholm from the Finnish architectural studio ALA explains that the concert hall was conceived to feel as a musical instrument in itself. The undulating form of the ceiling was built from local oak based on traditional boat construction principles. Such a formal solution would have been impossible to make out of any other material.

In a similar way the Kamppi Chapel of Silence is an example of exquisite craftsmanship in the treatment of timber.

Erected in one of the busiest areas in Helsinki the chapel looks like a giant wooden bowl that has accidentally landed in the heart of the city and feels almost like a piece of conceptual art -- architecture with spiritual and intellectual connotations -- as sacred buildings should, of course. Its setting is unusual and its circular form radically breaking traditional models of architecture.

"It would be crazy not to make the most of a material, which is renewable and responds to serious environmental threats
Pyry-Pekka KantonenIn Nordic countries and in the Balkans, wood has always been part of the architectural heritage. Weekends and holidays are still spent in waterfront log cabins and wooden cottages, but due to safety regulations -- and a disdain towards traditional materials in the 1960's -- its use diminished in family house building. Wood has been perceived as a modest material. A sense of simplicity and truthfulness is still associated to all timber constructions.

In a world where our ecological footprint is continuously considered, the reality of wood being the new concrete looks plausible indeed. Not only does wood absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, it also stores it in its finished form. The entire lifecycle of wood from construction to recycling benefits the planet from an ecological perspective.

In countries where wood is a natural resource buildings made out of timber make perfect sense. "It would be crazy not to make the most of a material, which is renewable and responds to serious environmental threats," Kantonen says. "Producing concrete and steel takes huge amounts of energy."

He also believes that wooden buildings will attribute to a better society where people are more tolerant and open towards each other:

"There is a warmth in wood and I don't just mean the physical characteristics."

© 2012 Grand Tour Magazine. All rights reserved.

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