Saamelaiskulttuurikeskus Sajos, Finland, Finnish Lapland Building, Design, Architects
Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos
Inari Building Development, Finland – design by Halo Arkkitehdit
29 Oct 2017
The Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos, Finland
Location: Inari, northern part of Finnish Lapland
Design: Halo Arkkitehdit with M3 Architects
Saamelaiskulttuurikeskus Sajos
This building is located in the northern part of Finnish Lapland. Sajos is the centre of culture and administration for the Sami people. The building includes not just the usual spaces you would find in a cultural centre – offices, restaurant, library – but a parliament hall and auditorium. The structure is in-situ concrete with the facade clad in spruce using a strong vertical rhythm. The centre will form a critical support network for this indigenous people on the northern fringe of Europe.
photograph : Mika Huisman
The Sami Cultural Centre Sajos is located in the village of Inari. The Sami, the only indigenous people in EU. The building creates better possibilities for the Sami in Finland to preserve and develop their own language, culture and business.
On site plan the cultural centre is formed roughly as a cross, creating different yards facing natural or man-made attractions in the vicinity and connecting the building to it’s environment. Shape is carefully plotted to avoid harming old trees on the site. It is a modern interpretation of forms found in ancient sámi handicrafts.
photographs : Mika Huisman
Different functions are packed in their respective wings, leaving a large, flowing space as a lobby in the middle. Functions include: Sámi parliament hall and an acoustically flexible auditorium, a multipurpose hall, meeting rooms, restaurant, library, archives, studio and editing facilities, classrooms and offices.
The load-bearing structure is mainly concrete cast in-situ to facilitate reasonably complex geometry. Thermal insulation exceeds the rigorous Finnish standards. Technically HVAC- systems are state-of-the art for further energy savings.
The facade is defined by massive vertical planks aligned to eavesline. Behind the planks the facade is clad in vertical boards and glass. All timber in the facade is spruce, treated with iron sulfate.
In the interior wooden surfaces have a great role in creating the atmosphere. The smoothly curving walls of auditorium and parliament hall are clad in horizontal pine boards to give them a feel of a handcraft object.They are in contrast to the buildings rough exterior. Inside the parliament hall and auditorium have their visually and acoustically distinct characters.
photos : Mika Huisman
Saamelaiskulttuurikeskus Sajos – Building Information
Title: The Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos / Saamelaiskulttuurikeskus Sajos
Architects: HALO ARCHITECTS / Janne Laukka, Tuomas Niemelä, Milla Parkkali
M3 ARCHITECTS / Janne Pihlajaniemi
Gross floor area: 4,800 sqm
Size of the site: 3,6700 sqm
Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos Finland images / information from architects
Location:Inari, Finland
New Finnish Architecture
Contemporary Architecture in Finland
Finnish Architecture Design – chronological list
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A recent Cultural Centre building on e-architect:
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Cultural Centre and Library in Karlshamn
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photo © Paul Ott
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Finnish Architect – Alvar Aalto
Arctic Culture Centre, Hammerfest, Norway
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image from architect
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