An architect who knows wood admires log cabins
02.04.2014
Using scanty resources, our forebears built durable homes. A Japanese architect, who has made Finland his home, investigates what we could learn from them.
It was supposed to be just a year-long visit, but the things turned otherwise. Atsushi Takano, who graduated as architect in Japan, came to Otaniemi five years ago to take part in an intensive course on wood construction – and he is still here.
– Once the course was over, I started hankering after extra knowledge on wood from the perspective of material sciences. I was accepted as a student to the Department of Forest Products Technology, where I had the luck to work with Professor Matti Kairi and Professor Stefan Winter investigating environmental questions concerning wood construction. After graduating as a Master of Science in Technology, I therefore already had three specialities: architecture, wood engineering and environmental science. Combining these seemed like a good idea, and thus I started working on my dissertation, he smilingly tells.
Learning from traditional building construction
In his dissertation, Atsushi Takano wants to examine and find out about the best alternative for a building structure from the environmental point of view. He is especially interested in traditional vernacular buildings in Finland and Japan as good reference of sustainable living solutions. He is aiming to develop sustainable massive timber structure in a cold climate area by learning from the past. .
– I have studied traditional building techniques in Finland and Hokkaido, the climate of which is very similar to that of Helsinki. In both places, due to the conditions, people have learnt to build homes suitable for a cold climate while using materials that are available close by, energy efficiently and not needing any advanced technology. I believe that Finnish traditional log cabins and Chise buildings in Hokkaido have a lot of which we can learn even in modern times.
In a cold climate, one of the greatest factors that affects living condition is the heating in homes. In traditional log cabins and Chises, keeping the building warm is further aided, among other things, by its simple form, frugal ventilation and building material that stores heat. In addition to warmth, wood has the ability to store and release humidity.
– As far as indoor air quality and living comfort are concerned, it is an excellent property, Atsushi Takano explains.
New kind of city living
In addition to the dissertation research, Atsushi Takano works in the Energy-Efficient Townhouse project run by the Department of Architecture. Its purpose is to develop new housing typologies that are both energy-efficient and affordable by referring common housing type in Central Europe which might be suitable for Finland.
– In addition to environmental issue, we are also interested in economic and social questions, in the way people experience and feel about their homes. In a Finnish townhouse, compact living is, in fact, combined with individuality and privacy. Based on the project, we can provide the stakeholders (e.g. City of Helsinki, housing companies and constructors) with guidelines to back construction in new areas, Atsushi Takano hopes.
Text Minna Hölttä, photos Minna Hölttä and Atsushi Takano