Olla brings sculptural brick architecture to Oulunkylä
Haso Maapadontie 9
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Area: 7600 m2
Client: Helsingin Asuntotuotanto (City of Helsinki Housing Production)
Completion year: 2025
Photos: Martin Sommerschield, Kuvio
HASO Maapadontie 9, developed by the City of Helsinki’s Housing Production, is located in the growing Oulunkylä district of Helsinki, along the Raide-Jokeri light rail line. The architectural concept is based on a long, meandering building, with its varied form emphasized by a pitched roof that steps up and down along the length of the building. The solid, wall-like facade is enlivened by warm, muted brick surfaces and varied window openings. In contrast to the robust outer facade, the courtyard side features glazed balconies, with warm, translucent-treated timber used on the balcony interiors.
The aim was to create varied, well-functioning apartment layouts designed with furniture placement in mind, along with a diverse mix of apartments, with an emphasis on family-sized homes. Each apartment has a private balcony extending across the width of the apartment, while the top-floor homes also have open-air rooftop terraces. The building surrounds a sheltered courtyard that borders a park. The courtyard is also home to the building’s sauna and communal facilities, with their own terraces, as well as private ground-floor gardens and shared play and recreation areas with greenery. At the northern end of the courtyard is a rain garden designed to help manage stormwater.
