SONVEULLA HOUSE · ALPS

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Sonveulla House is a well-preserved traditional Alpine dwelling with mixed living and farming functions.

In winter, the hay was stored above the living areas and thus served as insulation. Traditionally, animals provided additional warmth to the home. The main living room was divided from the cows’ stable by pivoting walls only, and the sleeping area was shared with sheep.

The project combines the renovation of the original wood and stone structure and the rehabilitation of the existing living areas with the construction of a new volume within the hayloft. In contrast with the highly defined functions of the existing rooms, the new volume in the hayloft is a neutral space – adjustable to the evolving working and living requirements of its current inhabitants.

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Preliminary concept development for the restoration of an eighteenth century rural house

Status
Proposal

Collaboration between
Koji Hashimoto · Aya Nakamura · Nathalie Pozzi

Drawings by
Aya Nakamura

Location
Italian Alps

Status
in progress

LASTU SUMMER SAUNA · FINLAND

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As part of the Wood Program at Helsinki University of Technology, the Lastu Sauna concept originated with architect Peter Westerlund and was developed by a team from the Wood Program.

In addition to general creative contributions and construction work, project responsibilities focused on the design of the outer skin of the building, which is designed to both screen and reflect light.

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Design development and construction of a modular summer sauna.

A project part of the Wood Program · Helsinki University of Technology

Author
Peter Westerlund (Finland) with Adam Guernier (Australia), Nathalie Pozzi (Italy), Isshin Sasaki and Koji Hashimoto  (Japan), Max Lönnqvist (Sweden), Sevra Davis and Nathaniel Moore (Usa).

Location
Fiskars · Finland

Year:
2003

Lastu Sauna is built along the Fiskars River. The entire structure is a single wall, curled like a wood shaving.

The flow of the wall leads bathers through the sauna, taking them from the bright light of an open terrace to the dim illumination of an enclosed sauna built out of solid wood.

As it transforms from open to being enclosed, its grid-like wood wall divides the building into functional areas: a terrace, a changing room and a sauna.

The sauna is built of 1”x4” spruce boards. The planks have been fastened at their joints by four hot-dipped galvanized machine nails. The high number of joints ensures the structural integrity of this small building.

The inner surfaces of the wall structure are planed boards and the outer layers are fine-sawn. The building has been finished with a white, oil-based wood preservative.

The open wall of the terrace is built from three layers of wood, and the solid-wood walls of the sauna are constructed out of seven distinct layers of wood.

SAVU SAUNA · FINLAND

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Savusauna (Smoke Sauna) is a dark and massive wooden hut. The project focuses on the synthesis of smoke, water and sunlight.

The fulcrum of the sauna is a covered terrace that separates the pristine dressing room from the charcoal of the sauna room. A gable roof, covered by dark, oil-treated metal panels, encloses and shades the terrace. Bench-beds on either side of the terrace allow bathers to view framed panoramas of the lake beyond.

The interior lighting of the sauna, regulated by a sliding louver, is low and concentrated. In contrast, the light in the dressing room is bright and diffuse. The exterior cladding is made from tar treated horizontal timber boards.

As the sauna ages, the natural decay of the exterior wood surface will give it a rich tactile and visual texture.

Savu Sauna was exhibited in Fiskar · Finland

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Sauna Concept

Academic Institution
Wood Program · Helsinki University of Technology

Location
Helsinki · Finland

Year
2003