Metsä Group wood products business involved in the construction of Millennium Pavilion's Kierre Entrance
Metsä Wood Press Release 6 May 2014
Wood products of Metsä Wood, part of Metsä Group, were utilised in the Kierre Entrance, which won a design competition for Aalto University's architecture students. Kierre Entrance is exhibited at the entrance of the Millennium Pavilion built at Kansalaistori Park in Helsinki, Finland.
Technology Academy Finland (TAF) organises a major technology and innovation event in Helsinki on 28 April–14 May 2014. The main venue of the event is the over 1,500-square metre Millennium Pavilion where Aalto University Wood Program course students built an impressive spiral shaped entrance gate from Metsä Wood Kerto® and plywood products. A platform made from Metsä Wood terrace products acts as the base of the gate. The Kierre Entrance, which won a design competition for architecture students, reflects Finnish wood know-how and the use of wood as an architectural construction material.
"Spiral is not an easy structure but it is a prime example of the opportunities provided by modern technology in wood construction. When challenging structures are implemented, the key questions consist of high-quality products and competence in all construction phases from design to processing and assembly. A project like Kierre provides a good opportunity for architecture students to learn new things and to test the possibilities of using wood," says Pekka Heikkinen, professor of Wood Architecture at Aalto University.
The implementation of Kierre Entrance started with a brainstorming competition, and then the winning idea was refined through teamwork to a plan that also carefully accounted for the implementation possibilities of the structure. A suitable solution for manufacturing the challenging gate elements was found amongst Metsä Wood Kerto® products and long birch plywood. The processing of joined wood elements is precision work, which also sets strict requirements for the wood material used.
The students took part in the Wood Program training programme arranged by Aalto University's Department of Architecture. The goal of the programme is to deepen the wood construction competence of the students. The course is organised annually, and 15 students from ten different countries were selected to attend it. During the one-year course, the participants have familiarised themselves with wood construction all the way from the forest through different wood processing methods and the implementation of major wood construction projects.
For further information, please contact:
Susanna Siira, Marketing and communications manager, Metsä Wood, tel. +358 400 606 082
Pekka Heikkinen, Professor of Wood Architecture, Aalto University, tel. +358 50 377 3786
Photos of Kierre Entrance by Kimmo Räisänen:
http://databank.metsagroup.com/?cart=3033-afmialihbe&l=EN
For more information on Metsä Wood products, please visit:
www.metsawood.com
More information on Aalto University Kierre Entrance wood construction project:
http://kierrepavilion.wordpress.com/
More information on the Millennium Pavilion:
http://taf.fi/en/events/millennium-pavilion/
More information on Aalto University's Wood Program:
www.woodprogram.fi
Metsä Group is a responsible forest industry group whose products’ main raw material is renewable and sustainably grown northern wood. Metsä Group focuses on tissue and cooking papers, consumer packaging paperboards, pulp, wood products, and wood supply and forest services. Its high-quality products combine renewable raw materials, customer-orientation, sustainable development and innovation. Metsä Group’s sales totalled €4.9 billion in 2013, and it employs approximately 11,000 people. The Group operates in some 30 countries. Metsäliitto Cooperative is the parent company of Metsä Group and is owned by approximately 123,000 Finnish forest owners.
Metsä Wood provides competitive and environmentally friendly wood products for construction, industry and distributor partners. The products are manufactured from northern wood, a sustainable raw material of premium quality. Metsä Wood's sales were €897 million in 2013, and we employ approximately 2,500 people. Metsä Wood is part of Metsä Group.