Little Finlandia

Little Finlandia in Helsinki is a pioneering example of the circular economy in the construction sector, where projects feature temporary use, environmentally friendly materials and extended use over the long term. At the time, architecture student Jaakko Torivnen designed and developed Little Finlandia in collaboration with Aalto University, the City of Helsinki and Finlandia Hall, as a temporary replacement during the renovation of Finlandia Hall.

Photo by Mika Pollari

The building, which is approximately 2,700 square meters, uses 95 whole, untreated pine trees with branches as supporting columns. The trees were pressure-washed instead of chemically treated, which minimizes processing and preserves their natural shape. This treatment emits less carbon dioxide compared to traditional wood products, while at the same time highlighting the beauty and engineering genius of nature itself.

The building was designed from the start to be dismantled and reused elsewhere for different purposes. It is constructed from prefabricated wooden elements, including CLT panels, LVL hollow core elements and glued laminated timber beams. Joints and visible technical systems make demolition easy. When the renovation of Finlandia Hall was completed, the building was moved and will be reused as a school, with a lifespan of 30 to 50 years.

Photo by Kimmo Raisanen

The design is a combination of minimalism and organic form: a simple rectangular layout offsets the irregularity of the whole tree. Internal halls and flexible spaces allow the building to be used in a variety of ways, from concerts to seminars, supporting both current functionality and future adaptability. Little Finlandia shows how architecture can embrace the goals of the circular economy through environmentally friendly material choices, reuse of materials and flexible design.