Client: Uusikaupunki local authority
Architects: SAFA - Pia Helin, Kimmo Salmela
Engineers: Narmaplan Oy - Juha Junttila
Contractors: Ukiplan Oy

Pyhämaa Islet is an ancient Baltic fishing village near the town of Uusikaupunki, below the Gulf of Bothnia, a place of historic timber buildings, including a 17th century church, and a school which dates to the start of the twentieth century. A new hall for the school and community sports and activities was required. It had to fit in with this cultural area and was to be placed next to existing playing fields, woven into the school complex which sits prominently on a hill.

This was the challenge for the architects and planners. The solution was a modern design, using the latest structural timber materials and timber cladding. Although providing a contrast with its older neighbours, the materials used were naturally sympathetic, decorated in the pastel shades appropriate for the northern context. The centre is of great beauty – an example of Nordic design flair, in contrast, yet in harmony, with its natural and architectural surroundings.

For the exterior cladding, timber was the natural choice, finished in traditional shades of linseed oil paint. Three different colours were applied to create the impression of a cluster of buildings rather than a single large block.

The load-bearing structure of the hall consists of Kerto Q wall units. This is a two-way spanning version of laminated veneer lumber, recently approved for design with the Eurocode through BS EN 14279. It is cut to shape in the factory, including all openings and profile variations. After prefabrication, it is simply and quickly assembled on site. The roof structure includes glulam arches and wood wool fibre insulation is used for the floors, mineral wool for the walls. Internal wall linings are lacquered plywood, while acoustic performance