The Martta Wendelin daycare centre in Tuusula is this year’s winner of the International Award for Wood Architecture. Aw... The Martta Wendelin daycare centre in Tuusula is this year’s winner of the International Award for Wood Architecture. Awarded annually by the international press, the aim is to bring exceptional wooden architecture into the limelight to encourage innovation in design and to unite countries in their common appreciation of wooden construction. The winner was announced …

A-Insinöörit’s planning manager, Jaana Jokitulppo, PhD, points out that although the importance of noise in peoples’ day... A-Insinöörit’s planning manager, Jaana Jokitulppo, PhD, points out that although the importance of noise in peoples’ day-to-day well-being is known, construction projects still do not pay sufficient attention to acoustic solutions because acoustic design is not perceived to be a part of the overall design. In a sense, expertise in acoustics must be sold separately …

The ability to bind moisture, the beneficial acoustic properties and thermal conductivity are well-known properties of w... The ability to bind moisture, the beneficial acoustic properties and thermal conductivity are well-known properties of wood, but now researchers are becoming interested in wood’s antibacterial properties. For example, a comparison of cutting boards found that wooden boards repelled bacteria better than their plastic equivalents. – Many materials contain volatile organic compounds, also

Riina Muilu-Mäkelä, a senior researcher at Luke, the Natural Resources Institute of Finland, is conducting basic researc... Riina Muilu-Mäkelä, a senior researcher at Luke, the Natural Resources Institute of Finland, is conducting basic research on the health effects of wood. She also coordinates the Finnish Superwood project, which aims to identify the commercial market potential of wood in addition to its health effects. – Research on wood’s health effects is cross-disciplinary. The …

Using wood as a construction material is drawing increased interest due to its potential effects on human well-being. Pr... Using wood as a construction material is drawing increased interest due to its potential effects on human well-being. Problems with indoor air, mildew and noise in buildings have increased the pressure for finding solutions to these problems as early as the building design phase. Multidisciplinary research on the factors associated with well-being is being conducted …

The wood product industry is often thought of as an industry with high volume. However, the industry also includes firms... The wood product industry is often thought of as an industry with high volume. However, the industry also includes firms specialising in small production runs and customer-focused service operations. Vankkapuu Oy is a family business that has operated for over three decades. With operations in Simpele and Joutseno in the Finnish province of South Karelia, …

The timber trade is in the midst of a structural change. Consumers are increasingly less interested in basic lumber and... The timber trade is in the midst of a structural change. Consumers are increasingly less interested in basic lumber and are demanding more finished products instead. “I want to push the processing industry towards a higher degree of refinement and product development and a larger appreciation of the domestic market,” says Petrus Berg, the CEO …

Koskisen Oy, which began its sawmill operations almost 110 years ago, has grown into a diversified wood processing compa... Koskisen Oy, which began its sawmill operations almost 110 years ago, has grown into a diversified wood processing company that processes all its procured wood into products ranging from bio-energy to industrial housing elements. Located in Kärkölä in Päijät-Häme, the company has a typical history for a Finnish wood industry company: it started with sawmill …

The Finnish wood processing industry’s history of more than one hundred years traces back to its international ori... The Finnish wood processing industry’s history of more than one hundred years traces back to its international orientation and its knowledge of the needs of the export market. Alongside the main products of pulp and paper, a strong construction-focused industry has emerged to produce particle board and plywood products for industrial construction needs. This industry …

Finland is known around the world for its high-quality wood architecture. Today’s Finnish wood architecture has it... Finland is known around the world for its high-quality wood architecture. Today’s Finnish wood architecture has its roots in the minds of internationally renowned Finnish architects and draws inspiration from nature. High-quality wood architecture is a significant facilitator in increasing the appreciation and market for wood construction and growing its reputation. Finnish architecture’s su

Log construction has long traditions in Finland based on the suitability of the excellent raw material, the skills of th... Log construction has long traditions in Finland based on the suitability of the excellent raw material, the skills of the craftsmen, and log construction for the demanding Finnish climate. New industrial log materials, manufacturing technology and indoor air requirements have increased interest in log construction. Finland is the world leader in industrial log construction. It …

Although veneer-based plywood has its origins in England 200 years ago, its industrial manufacturing is rooted in the de... Although veneer-based plywood has its origins in England 200 years ago, its industrial manufacturing is rooted in the development of the wood processing industry in Finland. The plywood industry has undergone significant structural changes over the past few decades, and as a result, smaller factories have now closed shop and plywood manufacturing in Finland is …

Finnish sawn timber has a good reputation among end users. This reputation is based on the timber’s high quality,... Finnish sawn timber has a good reputation among end users. This reputation is based on the timber’s high quality, which makes it suitable for demanding uses, and on the reliability of deliveries and customer service in the industry. The roots of the Finnish wood processing industry are in the sawmill industry, which has produced high …

Metsä Wood’s Open Source Wood initiative is a call to action to architects, designers and engineers to join forces, shar... Metsä Wood’s Open Source Wood initiative is a call to action to architects, designers and engineers to join forces, share innovation and contribute knowledge about large-scale, modular wood construction.  Today the construction industry is dominated by two materials – steel and concrete. Only a fraction (5-10%) of global urban construction is wood, due in part to the fact 

Can sculptor Essi Renvall’s granddaughter become anything but an artist? ”Well, at least in my case this tradition is co... Can sculptor Essi Renvall’s granddaughter become anything but an artist? ”Well, at least in my case this tradition is continuing,” Ilona Rista says with a laugh. She is known for imposing, unique spatial works of art made from wood that function as wall elements. In her spatial artwork, Rista has combined the tradition of woodworking …

Wood has played an important role throughout the career of fifty-year-old Petri Heino, M.Sc. (For.), whose studies also... Wood has played an important role throughout the career of fifty-year-old Petri Heino, M.Sc. (For.), whose studies also include forest industry-related marketing. The small-town boy from Riihimäki realised that wood was his thing while working in the forestry department of Paloheimo Oy. Since then, his career has been multifaceted: a year on a student exchange …

The Pudasjärvi City Council has made a unanimous policy decision to favour wood construction for all public buildings. A... The Pudasjärvi City Council has made a unanimous policy decision to favour wood construction for all public buildings. According to Mayor Tomi Timonen, the political mindset was based on the great significance of the forestry sector in the area. “We wanted to secure the hundreds of industrial jobs offered by the forestry sector, wood processing …

Stora Enso has introduced a modular construction solution based on CLT solid wood elements to the growing fast construct... Stora Enso has introduced a modular construction solution based on CLT solid wood elements to the growing fast construction market, enabling buildings to be ready for use in just a few weeks. There is a need for fast construction in many fields in Europe, for example student housing, school construction and now the significant challenge …

Finland’s largest log house manufacturer, Kontiotuote Oy, is improving its productivity by investing in design and... Finland’s largest log house manufacturer, Kontiotuote Oy, is improving its productivity by investing in design and industrial automation. The company has its own architecture and construction design units that employ as many people as actual production. “We use the industrial Internet, where design directs production. We can already see that strengthening investments in design has &hel

Sweco, an expert consulting company in the built environment and industry, is looking for growth in Central European con... Sweco, an expert consulting company in the built environment and industry, is looking for growth in Central European construction markets. After purchasing Grontmij, Holland’s leading construction design and consulting company, Sweco is Europe’s leading consulting and engineering company with 14,500 employees in 15 countries. Ismo Tawast, Managing of Director of Sweco Rakennetekniikka

Construction of the world’s tallest wood high-rise will begin this spring in Vienna, Austria. When completed in 20... Construction of the world’s tallest wood high-rise will begin this spring in Vienna, Austria. When completed in 2017, the HoHo building will have 24 storeys. Today, the tallest wood high-rise is a 14-storey residential building under construction in Bergen, Norway. Construction of the world’s tallest wood high-rise will begin next spring in Vienna, Austria. When …

Goals are high for Lapwall Oy, which began delivering wood elements three years ago in Pyhäntä, the most industrialised... Goals are high for Lapwall Oy, which began delivering wood elements three years ago in Pyhäntä, the most industrialised municipality in Finland. “Our goal is to cut construction costs and time by half and to be number one in wood construction in Northern Europe,” Lapwall’s Managing Director Jarmo Pekkarinen says without hesitation. “We already build …

Deputy Mayor Anni Sinnemäki wants Helsinki to be a vanguard in wood construction in Finland, both in special projects an... Deputy Mayor Anni Sinnemäki wants Helsinki to be a vanguard in wood construction in Finland, both in special projects and construction of multi-storey buildings. Sinnemäki, who is in charge of construction, is pleased with the Supreme Administrative Court’s decision giving municipalities the right to zone areas for wood buildings. “I’m truly proud that the city …

Eurban is a British company specialising in wood construction. Established in London in 2003, it is the most significant... Eurban is a British company specialising in wood construction. Established in London in 2003, it is the most significant enterprise in Great Britain’s limited wood-construction market. The company has realised the majority of about 300 wood-construction projects in Great Britain. “Construction based on use of solid wood boards, as well as our business operations model, …