Arhitects VIIVA arkkitehtuuri Oy - The Finnish Embassy

Arhitects VIIVA arkkitehtuuri Oy
The Finnish Embassy
Berlin, Germany
1999

Photo courtesy VIIVA arkkitehtuuri Oy

The Finnish Embassy in Berlin is part of "The Nordic Embassy Complex". The site "das Klingenhšfer Dreieck Nord" is located in the heart of the reunified Berlin on the southern side of Tiergarten park.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs organized a public architectural competition on the national level for the design of the Finnish Embassy in Berlin during the spring 1996. In total 92 participants took part in the competition. The competition jury decided unanimously to award the first prize to the entry Kannel ( a Kannel is a traditional five-stringed Finnish harp ). In the critics of the competition jury, Kannel, a simple building consisting of a single entity, lays claim to its place in the complex with unaffected confidence. The jury recognized also that the building contains elements expressing national identity. The jury went on to note that the simple exterior of the building emphasizes the multidimensionality of the interior. Furthermore the entry displays a skilled and confident command of materials.

The facades of the building are made of triple glazed insulated units, which are fixed to a metal profile system. The profiles support also the Venetian blinds which cover the exterior of the glazing. The blinds consist of wooden lattice work elements which are placed into a metal profile frames. Some of the blinds are equipped with hydraulic pumps with which they are electrically maneuvered from the interior. The pumps are located between the Venetian blinds and the glazing and thus the wooden facades continue without interruptions. All wooden elements are manually openable from exterior for the maintenance of the glass facade.

Photo courtesy VIIVA arkkitehtuuri Oy

The construction of the Finnish Embassy is entirely made of cast-in-situ concrete. All concrete parts are cast by using the film plywood or steel moulds.

The load-bearing and stiffening walls, the columns, the floors and the ceilings as well as the two emergency exit staircases will retain their concrete surfaces. The exposed concrete surfaces have a clear treatment against the moisture and dirt.

Photo courtesy VIIVA arkkitehtuuri Oy

The light inner walls separating the offices are covered with waxed birch plywood panels. The plywood cupboards of the office rooms are integrated into the walls. The fluid of the space benefits from the walls between the offices and corridors which are glazed from floor to ceiling. The glass surfaces are punctuated with the plain metal doors coated with aluminium sheets.

Photo courtesy VIIVA arkkitehtuuri Oy

Thin perforated steel plates will form the suspended ceiling. The clear surface covers the complex system of the services installed above the ceiling. The integrated lights will create a grid on an even surface of the metal plates.

The metal ceiling, the concrete floor and the wooden walls will create harmonious and calm surfaces. Three different materials are used to define the spaces.

The serpentine like main staircase in the hall has a steel profile structure. The steps, the balustrades and the underside of the flights are covered with aluminium.

Photo courtesy VIIVA arkkitehtuuri Oy

The curved volume of the third floor conference room is clad with plywood from both inside and outside. The use of the bended plywood is reminiscent to the Finnish craftsmanship in woodworks.

The inner courtyard is covered with a timber lattice work. The horizontal lattice work is a counter part for the vertical blinds of the facades. In the middle of the courtyard grows a Sorbus Aucuparia tree - a holy tree in the old Finnish traditional beliefs.

The building is entirely ventilated. All the concrete slabs have an integrated floor heating system which regulates the temperature. Due to the high fire protection standards the building is equipped with a sprinkler system.

The Finnish Embassy houses the offices of the chancellery, two conference rooms and a small library. The sauna section is located on the ground floor next to the waterpool which traverses the embassy center.

VIIVA arkkitehtuuri Oy
Helsinki
Rauno Lehtinen
Pekka MŠki
Toni Peltola

Commissioned by Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The architectural design of the embassy building started in July 1996, the Embassy Complex opened in October 1999.

Overall area 1860 m2
Usable area 1575 m2
Volume 6550 m3





				Features
		Arhitects VIIVA arkkitehtuuri Oy The Finnish Embassy Berlin, Germany 1999 Photo courtesy VIIVA arkkitehtuuri Oy The Finnish Embassy in Berlin is part of "The Nordic Embassy Complex". The site "das Klingenhšfer Dreieck Nord" is located in the heart of the reunified Berlin on the southern side of Tiergarten park. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs organized a public architectural competition on the national level for the design of the Finnish Embassy in Berlin during the spring 1996. In total 92 participants took part in the competition. The competition jury decided unanimously to award the first prize to the entry Kannel ( a Kannel is a traditional five-stringed Finnish harp ). In the critics of the competition jury, Kannel, a simple building consisting of a single entity, lays claim to its place in the complex with unaffected confidence. The jury recognized also that the building contains elements expressing national identity. The jury went on to note that the simple exterior of the building emphasizes the multidimensionality of the interior. Furthermore the entry displays a skilled and confident command of materials. The facades of the building are made of triple glazed insulated units, which are fixed to a metal profile system. The profiles support also the Venetian blinds which cover the exterior of the glazing. The blinds consist of wooden lattice work elements which are placed into a metal profile frames. Some of the blinds are equipped with hydraulic pumps with which they are electrically maneuvered from the interior. The pumps are located between the Venetian blinds and the glazing and thus the wooden facades continue without interruptions. All wooden elements are manually openable from exterior for the maintenance of the glass facade. Photo courtesy VIIVA arkkitehtuuri Oy The construction of the Finnish Embassy is entirely made of cast-in-situ concrete. All concrete parts are cast by using the film plywood or steel moulds. The load-bearing and stiffening walls, the columns, the floors and the ceilings as well as the two emergency exit staircases will retain their concrete surfaces. The exposed concrete surfaces have a clear treatment against the moisture and dirt. Photo courtesy VIIVA arkkitehtuuri Oy The light inner walls separating the offices are covered with waxed birch plywood panels. The plywood cupboards of the office rooms are integrated into the walls. The fluid of the space benefits from the walls between the offices and corridors which are glazed from floor to ceiling. The glass surfaces are punctuated with the plain metal doors coated with aluminium sheets. Photo courtesy VIIVA arkkitehtuuri Oy Thin perforated steel plates will form the suspended ceiling. The clear surface covers the complex system of the services installed above the ceiling. The integrated lights will create a grid on an even surface of the metal plates. The metal ceiling, the concrete floor and the wooden walls will create harmonious and calm surfaces. Three different materials are used to define the spaces. The serpentine like main staircase in the hall has a steel profile structure. The steps, the balustrades and the underside of the flights are covered with aluminium. Photo courtesy VIIVA arkkitehtuuri Oy The curved volume of the third floor conference room is clad with plywood from both inside and outside. The use of the bended plywood is reminiscent to the Finnish craftsmanship in woodworks. The inner courtyard is covered with a timber lattice work. The horizontal lattice work is a counter part for the vertical blinds of the facades. In the middle of the courtyard grows a Sorbus Aucuparia tree - a holy tree in the old Finnish traditional beliefs. The building is entirely ventilated. All the concrete slabs have an integrated floor heating system which regulates the temperature. Due to the high fire protection standards the building is equipped with a sprinkler system. The Finnish Embassy houses the offices of the chancellery, two conference rooms and a small library. The sauna section is located on the ground floor next to the waterpool which traverses the embassy center. VIIVA arkkitehtuuri Oy Helsinki Rauno Lehtinen Pekka MŠki Toni Peltola Commissioned by Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The architectural design of the embassy building started in July 1996, the Embassy Complex opened in October 1999. Overall area 1860 m2 Usable area 1575 m2 Volume 6550 m3