Cobe & Lunden Architecture Company to create landmark community building in Finland

Tenderstream member Cobe, together with Lundén Architecture Company, have won the competition to design Espoo House – a 24,000 sq m hybrid municipal building in Espoo, Finland, serving decision-makers, city employees and residents, as well as various residential blocks. Standing out for its ambitious use of wood and a close connection with its urban and natural surroundings, the project is intended to demonstrate the city authorities’ commitment to develop innovative solutions for future environmental and social challenges. 

Espoo House will serve as the new public heart of the city and a marketplace for community making. The building is part of a larger masterplan for the so-called Espoon Keskus, one of the city's five major urban centres, creating a diverse neighbourhood with new residential buildings, commercial facilities, public transportation, and green urban spaces. 

The building consists of a collection of rectangular volumes that differ in height in response to the site. With its sculptural roof profiles, the structure is designed to be a recognizable landmark in the city, while complementing adjacent housing blocks in scale and appearance. A mix of workspaces and public areas promotes interaction, social encounters, and dialogue between city representatives and Espoo’s residents. Public spaces extend vertically within the building, with the top floor housing a public multi-purpose hall and winter garden, providing a setting for large public events with expansive views over the city and surrounding landscapes.

The new landmark strives to serve as a model for innovative wood construction. Dan Stubbergaard, Founder of Cobe, states: “Espoo House will be constructed primarily of wood: columns and beams of mass timber, slabs of CLT and a wooden clad façade, continuing Finland’s rich tradition of building in wood. While minimizing the emission of CO2 compared to traditional concrete constructions, wood will also be visible throughout the building and create a warm atmosphere and quality. Unlike historical, large-scale and formal city halls, we envision a human, social and tactile house for the people, and an urban living room for community building.”

Lucy Nordberg
Tenderstream Head of Research

This tender was first published by Tenderstream on 01.07.2022 here

Start your free trial here or email our team directly at customerservices@tenderstream.com