RECLAIMING TIMBER: ADVANCING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY THROUGH STRUCTURAL GLULAM FORMS

Timber can be repurposed into engineered wood products (EWPs), such as glulam, which may substitute carbon-intensive materials like concrete or steel. Contrary to recycling, reuse allows for the preservation of building resources at their maximum worth while avoiding the need for new materials. This innovative design aims to increase the value of the wood circular economy (CE) by exploring the turning of reclaimed timber into structural glulam log forms.

INNOVATIVE HERITAGE: A STRUCTURAL EXPERIMENT IN FINNISH LOG CONSTRUCTION

Finland has a long history of massive wood construction such that the log construction technique has been used as a traditional method of Finnish residential construction for thousands of years, and the entire history of Finnish architecture is based on this technique. With the development of technology, some innovative timber structures have developed in Finland.

Finland boasts an extensive heritage of timber construction, predominantly reliant on logs. Logs are frequently stacked horizontally and joined at specific corner junctions. Various forms of log joints exist, and six representative log joints are often used for construction in Finland.

The main structure of this proposal is the log. The experimental design was implemented by mixing all six of Finland’s representative log forms discussed earlier. The museum can be defined as a new structural format that can explore Finland’s six representative log combinations simultaneously, beyond just buildings.

FINAL: FINNISH LOG CONSTRUCTION MUSEUM

The project physically hosts abandoned Finnish timber structures and fragments of buildings to restore and preserve Finland’s log architectural heritage.

The project consists of five floors in total. The ground floor houses a reception area and a documentary archive that operates the museum. On the -1 floor, visitors can observe the museum’s principal collections, which include abandoned log constructions and antiquated tools. By exploring some of the heritage of Finnish timber and tools, one can learn traditional Finnish timber techniques and the chronological development of tools. On the -2 floor, individuals will discover a café to savour coffee or beverages while appreciating the Helsinki Ocean View. The first floor features an outdoor area where individuals can engage with the forests and trees of Seurasaari Island. Finally, on the second floor, there are viewpoints where visitors can enjoy the sea horizon and cityscape.

DESIGNING MOVEMENT: CIRCULATION, CURVES, AND LIGHT ALONG THE WATERFRONT

[Ascending to the Coast: A Circulation-Driven Museum Experience]
Designed a plan that was dependent on visitors’ circulation and increased height as one approached the coastline so that visitors could enjoy a wide museum. The roof was designed to be a shed roof style.

[ Curving Toward the View: Redefining Helsinki’s Waterfront Experience ]
The design aimed to provide visitors with diverse perspectives of Helsinki by transforming the proposed waterfront edge into a curved configuration. The shed roof evolved into a curved design.

[ Shifting Perspectives: How Subtle Tilts Transform Spatial Experience]
The floor plan is the same as that of previous studies, but the angle of the space located close to the waterfront is tilted closer to the waterfront. These attempts allow visitors to enjoy various natural scenery depending on the location. In addition, the amount of natural light coming in can be increased over time.

NEGOTIATING NATURE: DESIGNING A MUSEUM ACROSS FOREST, GRANITE, AND SEA

The main programmes of the museum are log construction collections, old tool collections, the archive, and the reception. These design advancements reflect the variations in each program based on the museum’s location, the interrelations of each program, and environmental conditions. As the project encompasses coastal seas, granite, and forests, each space offers a distinct and diverse natural landscape. One of the critical subjects throughout the project is how my project will negotiate forest ground, granite coast, and water.

One of the pivotal subjects throughout the project is how my project will negotiate forest ground, granite coast, and water. I designed my project’s structure by utilising the bending timber prototype, which I explored from the initial bending timber experiment. The footing design and materials will differ depending on the site’s natural conditions.